PROGRESSIVE TENSES

A. Present progressive = am + (base form + -ing) : I am working. OR is + (base form + -

ing) : She is eating. OR are + (base form + -ing) : We are studying.
1. A planned activity.
Sofia is starting school at CEC tomorrow
2. An activity that is occurring right now.
Jan is watching TV right now.
3. An activity that is in progress, although not actually occurring at the time of
speaking.
Sara is learning English at CEC.

B. Past progressive = was + (base form + -ing) : I was working. OR were + (base form +
-ing) : They were eating.
1. A past activity in progress while another activity occurred.
At 6:00 yesterday I was eating dinner.
The phone rang while I was eating.
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 2. Two past activities in progress at the same time.
While I was answering the phone, my wife was cooking dinner.

C. Future progressive = will be + (base form + -ing): I will be working. He will be eating.
An activity that will be in progress.
Tomorrow Sam will be studying for the test on Unit 1.

D. Present perfect progressive = have + (base form + -ing): I have been working. OR
has + (base form + -ing): She has been eating.

1. This tense emphasizes the duration of an activity that began in the past and
continues into the present. It often uses time words or phrases. It may be used to
refer to continuing activity that is recent.
He has been painting houses all summer.
I’ve been studying English for 2 years.
2. It may be used to refer to continuing activity that is recent.
He has been going to school at CEC.

E. Past perfect progressive = had + (base form + -ing) : I had been working. He had
been eating.

When the teacher arrived, I had been waiting almost 10 minutes.

He was out of breath because he had been running to catch the bus.

F. Future perfect progressive = will have + (base form + -ing): I will have been working.
She will have been eating.
This tense emphasizes the duration of a continuing activity in the future that ends
before another activity or time in the future.

By 2003 Janet will have been studying English at CEC for 3 years.
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 By 9:45 tonight I will have been sitting in class for 2 hours and 45 minutes.

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