Lesson 4: Progressive Forms of Verbs

Definition

The present progressive form indicates that an action is or has been occurring in the present.

Explanation

Think of the progressive form as showing an action in progress. It always uses a form of the verb be followed by the -ing form of the main verb. For the present progressive, use is/are + -ing to show what's happening now. For the present perfect progressive, use has/have been + -ing to show an action that started in the past and is still continuing.

Examples

• The neighbor’s dog is barking at a squirrel on our roof. [The present progressive form consists of the present tense of be and the present participle barking.]
• We have been filling the recycling bins almost once a week. [The present perfect progressive form consists of the present perfect tense of be and the present participle filling.]

Definition

The future progressive form of a verb indicates that an action will be occurring or will have been occurring at some time in the future.

Explanation

This form helps you talk about an ongoing action in the future. The future progressive (will be + -ing) describes an action that will be in progress at a specific future time. The future perfect progressive (will have been + -ing) is used for an action that will have been happening for a period of time before another point in the future. It emphasizes duration.

Examples

• Once the car is packed, they will be leaving for the airport. [The future progressive form is will be leaving.]
• At six o’clock, that lizard will have been basking on that limb for four hours. [The future perfect progressive form is will have been basking.]

Definition

The past progressive form of a verb indicates that an action was occurring or had been occurring at some time in the past.

Explanation

Use this form to describe a continuous action in the past. The past progressive (was/were + -ing) shows an action that was happening at a certain moment. The past perfect progressive (had been + -ing) describes an action that was in progress before another past action took place. It helps set the scene for a past event.

Examples

• Mike and Claudia were planning to meet us there. [The past progressive form is were planning.]
• The shuttle bus had been running earlier today. [The past perfect progressive form of the verb run is had been running.]