The present progressive: être en train de (to be doing something)

The expression être en train de + infinitive verb is used to emphasize actions in progress, similar to the present progressive tense in English. These constructions take a conjugated form of the verb être (in the present) + en train de + inifinitive verb.
Je suis en train de manger. être, présent I'm eating (right now)/ I'm in the process of eating.
Solange est en train de dormir. être, présent Solange is sleeping (right now).
Unlike the simple present tense, which is sometimes used for actions in progress, être en train de never describes a regular or habitual action.
Je mange = je suis en train de manger I am eating (this is an ongoing action: we can use the either the simple present, or en train de)
Je mange tous les jours au restaurant I eat at the restaurant every day (this is a habit: we can't use en train de here)
Note : The expression être en train de has nothing to do with trains!
Je suis en train de voyager. I'm travelling.
Je voyage en train. I travel by train / I am travelling by train.

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