Verb Tenses: Lesson 1

​Verb Tenses: Lesson 1

By Jennifer Angeles-Espinoza

​Progressive Tenses

These always show an action that is happening (unfinished, in progress).
The formula always has a “be” verb + present participle (-ing form).


A participle is a form of a verb that usually ends in -ed or -ing and is used as part of a verb tense or as an adjective.

It is → It is raining.

We are → We are playing.

They are → They are talking.

✨ So the pattern is:
am / is / are + -ing

am/is/are + -ing

I am → I am running.

You are → You are reading.

He is → He is eating.

She is → She is sleeping.

Example #1

Present Progressive-------> happening right now

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

I

reading a book right now.

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

She

cooking dinner in the kitchen.

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

They

playing basketball outside.

Dropdown

They​ ​

Select answer

playing basketball outside.

Dropdown

He​

Select answer

watching TV after school. Then, we ​

Select answer

going to dinner at 7pm.

was/were + -ing

I was → I was reading.


You were → You were listening.


He was → He was cooking.

Past Progressive → was happening at a certain time in the past

Example #2

It was → It was raining.

We were → We were studying.

They were → They were playing.

✨ So the pattern is:
was/were + -ing

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

I

reading a book when the lights went out.

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

They

playing basketball yesterday afternoon.

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

He

watching TV when his mom called him.

Dropdown

We​

Select answer

studying for the test last night.

Dropdown

You​

Select answer

talking during the lesson.

She will be → She will be writing.

It will be → It will be raining.

We will be → We will be studying.

They will be → They will be playing.

I will be → I will be reading.

You will be → You will be listening.

He will be → He will be cooking.

will be + -ing

Example #3

Future Progressive → will be happening in the future

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

I

reading my book at 9 pm tonight.

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

We

studying for the test this weekend.

Fill in the Blanks

Which "be" verb belongs in the blank?

She

cooking dinner when you arrive.

Review Mix-Up

Multiple Choice

I ___ (am reading / was reading / will be reading) a book right now.

• am reading

• was reading

• will be reading

Multiple Choice

She ___ (is cooking / was cooking / will be cooking) dinner when you arrive tomorrow.

• is cooking

• was cooking

• will be cooking

Multiple Choice

They ___ (are playing / were playing / will be playing) soccer yesterday afternoon.

• are playing

• were playing

• will be playing

Multiple Choice

We ___ (are studying / were studying / will be studying) for the test this weekend.

• are studying

• were studying

• will be studying

Fill in the Blanks

It

raining outside right now.

Fill in the Blanks

The children

laughing at the joke yesterday.

Fill in the Blanks

You

listening to music when I called you.