Verb Tenses: Lesson 1

​Progressive Tenses

These always show an action that is happening (unfinished, in progress).
The formula always has a “be” verb + present participle (-ing form).


A participle is a form of a verb that usually ends in -ed or -ing and is used as part of a verb tense or as an adjective.

It is → It is raining.

We are → We are playing.

They are → They are talking.

✨ So the pattern is:
am / is / are + -ing

am/is/are + -ing

I am → I am running.

You are → You are reading.

He is → He is eating.

She is → She is sleeping.

Example #1

Present Progressive-------> happening right now

was/were + -ing

I was → I was reading.


You were → You were listening.


He was → He was cooking.

Past Progressive → was happening at a certain time in the past

Example #2

It was → It was raining.

We were → We were studying.

They were → They were playing.

✨ So the pattern is:
was/were + -ing

She will be → She will be writing.

It will be → It will be raining.

We will be → We will be studying.

They will be → They will be playing.

I will be → I will be reading.

You will be → You will be listening.

He will be → He will be cooking.

will be + -ing

Example #3

Future Progressive → will be happening in the future

Review Mix-Up