Progressive Tenses
Present Progressive
FORM Present Progressive
[AM / IS / ARE] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLES: 1. I am watching TV.
2. He is quickly learning the language.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Present Progressive (is learning), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (is quickly learning).
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USE 1 Now
Use the Present Progressive with Progressive Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
EXAMPLES: 1. You are learning English now.
2. You are not swimming now.
3. They are not watching television.
4. Why aren't you doing your homework?
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USE 2 Longer Actions in Progressive Now
In English, now can mean "this second," "today," "this month," "this year," "this century" and so on. Sometimes we use the Present Progressive to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progressive; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.
EXAMPLES: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a
restaurant.)
1. I am studying to become a doctor.
2. I am not studying to become a dentist.
3. Are you working on any special projects at work?
4. Aren't you teaching at the University now?
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USE 3 Near Future
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Progressive to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.
EXAMPLES:
1. I am meeting some friends after work.
2. I am not going to the party tonight.
3. Is he visiting his parents next weekend.
4. Isn't he coming with us tonight.
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USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Present Progressive with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
EXAMPLES:
1. She is always coming to class late.
2. He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
3. I don't like them because they are always complaining.
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IMPORTANT Non-Progressive Verbs/ Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Progressive Verbs cannot be used in any "progressive" tenses. Also, certain "non-progressive" meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in "progress" tenses. To express the idea of "happening now", you must use Simple Present USE 3.
EXAMPLES:
1. She is loving chocolate. Not Correct
2. She loves chocolate. Correct
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ACTIVE / PASSIVE Present Progressive
EXAMPLES:
1. Right now, Tom is writing the letter. ACTIVE
2. Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. PASSIVE
Past Progressive
FORM Past Progressive
[WAS / WERE] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLES:
1.I was studying when she called.
2. I was carefully picking up the snake when it bit me.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Progressive (was picking), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (was carefully picking).
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IMPORTANT
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word when such as "...when she called " or "...when it bit me." Clauses with the Past Progressive usually start with while. While expresses the idea "during the time." Study the examples below. They have the same meaning.
EXAMPLES: 1. I was studying when she called.
2. While I was studying, she called.
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USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Progressive to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
EXAMPLES: 1. I was watching TV when she called.
2.When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
3. While we were having a picnic, it started to rain.
4. Sally was working when Joe had the car
accident.
5. While John was sleeping last night, someone
stole his car.
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USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Progressive is interrupted by an action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
EXAMPLES: 1.Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
2.At midnight, we were still driving through the
desert.
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IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Progressive a specific time only interrupts the action.
EXAMPLES: 1. Last night at 6 p.m., I ate dinner.
(I started eating at 6 p.m.)
2. Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
(I started earlier and at 6 p.m. I was in the
process of eating dinner.)
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USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Progressive with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
EXAMPLES:
1.I was studying while he was mak di