Form the progressive verb tenses
Key Notes :
The progressive tense describes ongoing actions. It describes something that is, was, or will be happening. To form the progressive tenses, use a form of the helping verb to be with a main verb ending in -ing.
The present progressive tense describes something that is happening right now. It uses a present-tense form of the helping verb to be (is, am, or are).
Julie is playing basketball right now.
The past progressive tense describes something that was happening in the past. It uses a past-tense form of the helping verb to be (was or were).
Sam was talking to Mrs Jones when the phone rang.
The future progressive tense describes something that will be happening in the future. It uses the future-tense form of the helping verb to be (will be).
Karen will be visiting next June.
Learn with an example
š„Complete the sentence with the present progressive form of the verb.
- The police officer ________ (pin) her badge onto her uniform.
The sentence should be completed in the present progressive tense.
The subject is the police officer, so use the helping verb is with the -ing form of the main verb, pin. Since pin has one syllable and ends with a short vowel and a single consonant, double the final consonant before adding -ing.
The police officer is pinning her badge onto her uniform.
š„Complete the sentence with the past progressive form of the verb.
- Hundreds of geese_______ (fly) overhead.
The sentence should be completed in the past progressive tense.
The subject is hundreds of geese, so use the helping verb were with the -ing form of the main verb, fly.
Hundreds of geese were flying overhead.
š„Complete the sentence with the present progressive form of the verb.
- The actors __________(explain) how to speak with an accent.
The sentence should be completed in the present progressive tense.
The subject is the actors, so use the helping verb are with the -ing form of the main verb, explain.
The actors are explaining how to speak with an accent.
let’s practice!
