Verb Tenses Progressive

Progressive Tense = Action in Process

The progressive tense requires the helping verb “is.”

Forms of “Be” Present:  is  are Past:  was  were Future:  will be  shall be

To form the progressive tense, use the correct tense of “be” as the helping verb and a present participle as the main verb.

Verb Form Chart Base Form Present Participle Past Past Participle read is reading read have read chop is chopping chopped have chopped type is typing typed have typed

Present Progressive present form of “be” + present participle am typing

Past Progressive past form of “be” + present participle was typing

Future Progressive future form of “be” + present participle will be typing

Practice: base form/present tense- sing

Past Tense I _________________ a song yesterday. sang sang

Future Tense I _________________ a song tomorrow. Will sing Will sing

Present Perfect Tense I _________________ a song. have sung have sung

Past Perfect Tense I _________________ a song. had sung had sung

Future Perfect Tense I _________________ a song. Will have sung Will have sung

Present Progressive Tense I _________________ a song. am singing am singing

Past Progressive Tense I _________________ a song. Was singing Was singing

Future Progressive Tense I _________________ a song. will be singing will be singing

Just as the past, present, and future tenses can be perfect, the progressive tenses can also be perfect.

To form the perfect progressive tense, use the past participle of “be” as the helping verb and a present participle as the main verb.

Verb Form Chart Base Form Present Participle Past Past Participle amisare am being is being are being waswere have been has been sharpen is sharpening sharpened have sharpened

Past Participle of “be” Present:  have been  has been Past:  had been Future:  will have been  shall have been

Present Perfect Progressive present form of past participle “be” + present participle have been sharpening

Past Perfect Progressive past form of past participle “be” + present participle had been sharpening

Future Perfect Progressive future form of past participle “be” + present participle will have been sharpening

Verb tenses should remain consistent. If you are writing in the present tense, the whole paper should be in the present tense.

Papers about Literature Write about literature in the present tense.