Progressive Tense Verbs

Progressive Tense Verbs

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Progressive tense verbs are used to show a continuing or ongoing action or condition at some point in time. Progressive tense verbs use a form of the verb “to be” and the present participle of the verb (the –ing form).

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The present progressive tense names an action or condition that is currently in progress.

• It consists of the helping verbs am, is, or are and the present participle.

• Ex. She is watching television.

The past progressive tense names an action or condition that lasted for a duration of time in the past. It may have been interrupted or occurred at the same time as something else.

• It consists of the helping verbs was or were and the present participle.

• Ex. I was reading when he arrived.

The future progressive tense names an action or condition that the subject will be in progress of doing at some point in the future.

• It consists of the helping verb will be or am/is/are going to be and the present participle.

• Ex. He will be finishing college this spring.

• Ex. You are going to be in seventh grade next year.

Identify the underlined progressive tense verbs as present, past, or future.

Multiple Choice

I am stopping at the next rest stop I see.

• present progressive

• past progressive

• future progressive

Multiple Choice

They will be spending the whole day at the beach.

• present progressive

• past progressive

• future progressive

Multiple Choice

Our teacher was planning to take us outside, but it was too cold.

• present progressive

• past progressive

• future progressive

Multiple Choice

Jim and Pam were leaving the house when the phone rang.

• present progressive

• past progressive

• future progressive

Multiple Choice

The doctor is examining the patient.

• present progressive

• past progressive

• future progressive

Type the correct form of the verb given.

Fill in the Blanks

paint (past progressive tense)

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dance (present progressive tense)

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cook (future progressive tense)

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think (past progressive tense)

Fill in the Blanks

read (future progressive tense)