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Progressive Verb Tenses
Progressive verb tenses describe a continuing or unfinished action, such as I am going, I
was going, or I will be going.
The present progressive tense describes an action or state of being that takes place in the
present and that continues to take place.
To make verbs in the present progressive tense, combine these two parts:
Present tense
form of to be +^- ing (present
participle)
am/is/are help helping
You should use the present progressive tense to describe a planned activity, to describe
an activity that is recurring right now, and to describe an activity that is in progress,
although not actually occurring at the time of speaking:
- Preeti is starting school on Tuesday.
This sentence describes a planned activity.- Janetta is getting her teeth cleaned right now.
This sentence describes an activity that is occurring right now.- I am studying ballet at school.
This sentence describes an activity that is in progress but not actually occurring
at the time of speaking.The past progressive tense describes an action or state of being that took place in the
past and that continues to take place.
To make verbs in the past progressive tense, combine these two parts:
Past tense form of to be + - ing (present participle)
was/were helping