French expressions analyzed and explained
By Laura K. Lawless, About.com
Expression: Être en train de
Pronunciation: [eh tra(n) treh(n) deu]
Meaning:
to be ___-ing, to be in the process of
Literal translation: to be in (the) action of
Register: normal
Notes: French doesn't have a verb form equivalent to the present progressive. Normally, you just use the simple present in French (je parle) to express both the English simple present (I speak) and the present progressive (I am speaking). When you want to insist on the current, ongoing nature of an action in French, you can use être en train de: je suis en train de parler - I am (in the process of) speaking.
The French equivalent of the English past progressive is the imperfect: je parlais - I was speaking. But again, if you need to stress the fact that the action was continuing, you can use être en train de:
J'étais en train d'écrire ma thèse quand le tremblement de terre a frappé.
I was (in the middle of) writing my thesis when the earthquake struck.
http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/etreentrainde.htm?nl=1
