Form the progressive verb tenses

Key Notes :

Definition of Progressive Tenses:

• Progressive tenses describe actions that are ongoing or were ongoing at some point in time.
• They indicate continuous action in the past, present, or future.

Types of Progressive Tenses:

• Present Progressive: Indicates an action happening right now.
• Past Progressive: Indicates an action that was ongoing at a specific time in the past.
• Future Progressive: Indicates an action that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.

Forming the Present Progressive:

• Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb(-ing)
• Example: She is studying. (indicates an action happening right now)

Forming the Past Progressive:

• Structure: Subject + was/were + verb(-ing)
• Example: They were playing. (indicates an action that was ongoing in the past)

Forming the Future Progressive:

• Structure: Subject + will be + verb(-ing)
• Example: He will be traveling. (indicates an action that will be ongoing in the future)

Usage Tips:

• Use the present progressive for actions happening at the moment of speaking or for future plans.
• Use the past progressive for actions that were interrupted by another action or for background actions in a story.
• Use the future progressive for actions that will be ongoing at a specific future time or for planned future events.

Common Mistakes:

• Not using the correct form of “be” (am, is, are, was, were) before the verb + “ing”.
• Using the wrong tense (e.g., using past progressive for a present action).

Let’s practice!