Zijn aan het + infinitive in Dutch: used for ongoing actions

The "aan het + infinitive" is used for an action that is still going on. You could call it present continuous or durative.

• Ik ben aan het schoonmaken.
• I am cleaning

• Hij is aan het wandelen.
• He is walking.

• Zij is de hond aan het uitlaten.
• She is walking the dog.

• Wij zijn nu aan het koken.
• We are cooking now.

Note that this structure is mostly used when an action is going on right now. Imagine a friend calling you while you are having dinner. You could say:

• Ik kan nu niet bellen. Ik ben aan het eten.
• I can't call now. I am eating.

However, the structure can also be used for actions things that are going on in your life, but not right now, at this moment. Imagine you are reading a book every day right before going to bed. You didn't finish the book yet. In the morning you are having a coffee with a friend and you say:

• Ik ben nu een boek over de Tweede Wereldoorlog aan het lezen.
• I am reading a book about the Second World War now.

Although you are not reading the book while you are drinking coffee with your friend, you could use it. You could also use regular present tense:

• Ik lees nu een boek over de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
• I read a book about the Second World War now.

In general, the present continuous (duratief) is used a lot less than in English.

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