The simple tenses show that something happens. The progressive tenses show that it is in progress: going on at some moment. They use a form of be plus the -ing form of the verb.
| Tense | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past progressive | was / were + -ing | I was reading when the phone rang. |
| Present progressive | am / is / are + -ing | She is reading right now. |
| Future progressive | will be + -ing | We will be reading at noon tomorrow. |
Spelling -ing: make → making (drop a silent e); run → running (double after one vowel and one consonant); lie → lying (ie becomes y).
Key idea
A form of be + an -ing verb shows an action in progress: I am reading, I was reading, I will be reading.
Why it works
The progressive sets a scene: an action going on in the background while something else happens. “I was reading when the phone rang” shows a long action interrupted by a short one.
Worked example: Right now
Right now the twins (play) chess.
- Right now: in progress in the present.
- Twins is plural, so use are + playing.
Answer: Right now the twins are playing chess.
Worked example: Background and interruption
We (walk) home when it (start) to rain.
- The long action, walking, was in progress: past progressive, were walking.
- The rain started at one moment: simple past, started.
Answer: We were walking home when it started to rain.
Common mistake
Using the progressive for states that aren’t actions: “I am knowing the answer.” Verbs like know, believe, belong, own, need and seem usually take the simple form: “I know the answer.” A few verbs have both an action meaning and a state meaning: “I am having lunch” (eating), but “I have a bike” (owning).