This is Lesson 22 of our Basic English Series.
Parts of Speech 3.5 – Progressive Forms of Verbs –
The Progressive Forms of Verbs
There is another set of verb tenses that is confusing to some non-native speakers of English which we will focus in this lesson. This was also mentioned at the beginning of lesson 20. A verb has a special form to show that the action is continuing or progressing at the time indicated by a particular tense. The progressive form usually applies on action verbs with ing added mostly at the end of the verb, and this is called the present participle. The present participles can also be used as adjectives but we will cover that topic in another lesson.
If we go back to lesson 19, there are lists of regular and irregular verbs and you can choose one or more and convert them into the progressive form. Let us pick ten of them and observe how these were converted into the progressive from the simple form.
Simple Form
announce
boil
dare
estimate
arise
become
eat
flee
fly
go
Present Participle Form
announcing
boiling
daring
estimating
arising
becoming
eating
fleeing
flying
going
You may have noticed that conversion of simple verbs to their present participle forms (progressive forms) have different rules or formula. In the above examples, there are at least four rules. How do you define those rules?
- If the verb ends in a consonant, add ing to change to the progressive form.
Example: boil – boiling - If the verb ends in letter e that was preceded by a consonant, remove the e at the end then add the ing to change to the progressive form.
Example: announce – announcing - If the verb ends in a vowel (except the letter e) that was preceded by a consonant, add the ing to change to the progressive form.
Example: go – going - If the verb ends in a vowel that was preceded by another vowel, add the ing to change to the progressive form.
Example: flee – fleeing
Let us now see the six tenses and compare them with the previous verb tenses we have already covered.
Present Progressive Tense –
The present progressive tense shows continuing action, something going on now. It may also show that something will happen in the future. It is formed by combining the present tense of the verb to be with the present participle of another verb.
Past Progressive Tense –
The past progressive tense shows continuing action, something that was happening at some point in the past. It is formed by combining the past tense of the verb to be with the present participle of another verb (again the ing form).
Future Perfect Progressive Tense –
The future progressive tense shows continuing action, something that will be happening at some point in the future. It is formed by combining the future tense of the verb to be with the present participle of another verb.
Present Perfect Progressive Tense –
The present perfect progressive tense shows a continuous action that has been finished at some point in the past or that was initiated in the past and continuous to happen. It is formed by combining the present perfect tense of the verb to be with the present participle of another verb (ing form).
Past Perfect Progressive Tense –
The past perfect progressive tense shows a continuous action completed at some point in the past. It is formed by combining the past perfect tense of the verb to be with the present participle of another verb (ing form).
Future Perfect Progressive Tense –
The future perfect progressive tense shows a continuous action that will be completed at some point in the future. It is formed by combining the future perfect tense of the verb to be with the present participle of another verb (ing form).
Now that we have completed all the verb tenses, you can practice by choosing one or more of the verbs in the list on lesson 19, and with just a simple substitution you will be able to master these lessons on verb tenses. It will also help if you listen to English recordings and to English speakers while keeping a particular rule in mind and observe how that rule is being used. If no one is around, you may also watch English movies and listen carefully how the rules and principles on verb tenses are applied.
Please avoid using sub-titles as this will affect your hearing or listening skills. If you focus on listening to the sound of how English speakers enunciate, pronounce and speak the words and sentences, your ears along with your speech organs can adapt and you will eventually be able to mimic these. Of course you need to practice saying the words. Reading (either silent or aloud) can also do a lot than you think and expect. I’m sure you have already learned some applications of the verb tenses while reading these three concluding paragraphs of this lesson.
There is one more important aspect of verb that we will cover in the next lesson where it has been observed that many non-native speakers have difficulties with. After some of your practices and exercises with the verb tenses, you can proceed to lesson 23 to see what I am talking about.
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