) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

English Grade 5

Learning about the

Progressive Tenses
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) READ
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Read these sentences.

1. The pupil is reading a book now.

2. They are planning a program for the teachers.
3. The girls were decorating the stage when I arrived.
4. The officers will be inspecting the camp tomorrow.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) PROGRESSIVE TENSES
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

 Indicate continuous action.

 Structure: Verb be (linking verb) + the present

participle or the –ing form of the verb.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

-signifies an action taking place for a period of time, continues

till now, and may be on the future.

Example:
• The pupil is reading a book now.
• They are planning a program for teachers.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) PAST PROGRESSIVE
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

-means an action was begun and continued at a time in the past

when another action took place.
-two things were done in the past. However, one began and
continued before the other one started.

Example:
• The girls were decorating the stage when I arrived.
• The teacher was discussing a topic before the principal called
her.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

-indicates that an action will begin and continue at a future time.

Example:
• The officers will be inspecting the camp tomorrow.
• My mother will be arriving in May from Kuwait.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) REMEMBER
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In using the verbs in the progressive

tense, make sure that the verb be (am, is,
are, was, were, will/shall be) agrees with
the subject in number and person.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ACTIVITY
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Write in each blank the past progressive

tense of the verb in parenthesis. Observe
agreement of
the verb in person, number, and tense.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 1
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

1. I (think) __________ of what

gift to give her when you called.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 2
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

2. My friend (suggest) ________

a gift card before you came with
several gift items.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 3
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

3. Yesterday, she (show) _______

me the cards when my sister
walked in.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 4
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

4. My other classmates (take)

______ an interest in other gift
items in the mall during our last
visit.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 5
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

5. They (buy) ______ gift items

at about this time two years ago.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 6
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

6. You (sleep) ______ when I

came to visit you yesterday.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 7
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

7. Janette (learn) ______ a new

language when she was told that
she had no passport.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 8
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

8. The grade six pupils (take)

______ the high school entrance
examination when the siren
sounded so alarmingly.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 9
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

9. Mrs. Simeon (cook) ______

beef stew for dinner when her
children rushed in.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NUMBER 10
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

10. The doctor (examine) ______

the sick old man when the nurse
came into the clinic.