Present Progressive
The present progressive is formed with the present tense forms of the auxiliary BE and the –ING form of a verb.
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Form of BE + ING form
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Form of BE + ING form
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I am
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studying
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We are
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studying
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You are
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writing
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He
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You are
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writing
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She is
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working
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It is
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eating
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They are
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working
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Usages of the present progressive:
(1)To express activities that are in progress at the moment of speaking.
Examples:
- I am writing a letter to my family.
- He is studying his lesson in his room.
- They are eating breakfast.
(2) To express an activity that occurred at various intervals in the past and will probably continue at intervals in the future, but is not necessarily in progress at the moment of speaking.
Examples:
- I am studying English.
- He is working for an oil company.
- They are building bridges.
(3) To express an activity that will take place in the future. The futurity is indicated by time expressions.
Examples:
- He is leaving next week.
- I am buying a new car as soon as I have the money.
- They are going to Europe next year.
Past Progressive
The past progressive is formed with the past tense forms of the auxiliary BE and the ING form of a verb.
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Form of BE + ING form
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Form of BE + ING form
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I was
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studying
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We were
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studying
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You were
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writing
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He
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You were
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writing
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She was
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working
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It
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They were
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working
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Usage of the past progressive:
The past progressive is used to show that an activity was in progress in the past when another activity occurred. If both activities continued simultaneously, both may be in the past progressive. (See 4th example below)
Examples:
- I was studying English when Fernando called me.
- He was reading the newspaper when I asked the question.
- While they were playing tennis, it rained.
- I was studying while he was sleeping.
Present Perfect Progressive
The present perfect progressive is formed with the present tense forms of the auxiliary HAVE plus BEEN the ING form of a verb.
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Singular
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Plural
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Have or Has + BEEN + ING form
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Have + BEEN + ING form
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I have
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been
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studying
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We have
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been
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studying
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You have
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been
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writing
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He
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You have
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been
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writing
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She has
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been
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working
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It has
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been
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sleeping
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They have
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been
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working
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Usage of the present perfect progressive:
The present perfect progressive is used to emphasize the continuous nature of an activity that has lasted from a time in the past up to the moment of speaking.
Examples:
- I have been studying English a long time.
- He has been reading the newspaper to improve his English.
- They have been playing tennis for several hours.
Past Perfect Progressive
The past perfect progressive is formed with the past tense (HAD) plus BEEN plus the ING form of a verb.
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Singular
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Plural
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Had or Has + BEEN + ING form
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Had + BEEN + ING form
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I had
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been
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studying
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We had
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been
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studying
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You had
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been
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writing
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He
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You had
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been
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writing
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She had
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been
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working
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It
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They had
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been
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working
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Usage of the past perfect progressive:
To emphasize the continuance of an event in the past that occurred immediately before another event in the past.
Examples:
- I had been studying English a short time when I was sent to the United States.
- They had been playing tennis just a few minutes when it began to rain.
- He had been using the tape recorder a short time when the tape broke.
Future Progressive
The future progressive is formed with WILL or SHALL plus BE plus the ING form of a verb.
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Singular
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Plural
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Will or Shall + BE + ING form
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Will or Shall + BE + ING form
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I will (shall)
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be
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studying
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We will (shall)
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be
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studying
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You will
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be
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writing
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He
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You will
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be
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writing
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She will
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be
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working
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It
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They will
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be
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working
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Usage of the future progressive:
To express an activity that will be in progress in the future.
Examples:
- I will be playing tennis all day tomorrow.
- I will be studying English while you are getting ready to go.
- They will be playing tennis before we get there if we do not hurry.
- He will probably be reading the newspaper as his wife fixes breakfast.
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