Posted by: Carlo A. Sangutan
Sources: English Plus A Communicative Approach by Ida Yap Patron
English Grammar Notes c/o Prof. Rufina C. Esagre
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This module intends to let the students:
- distinguish present, past and future progressive tenses;
- identify what progressive tenses have expressed; and
- complete sentences using correct tenses of the verb.
Introduction
We all know that most of us want this what we call 'progress'. Progress can mean advancement. Our country today is facing to different problems like financial problems. We aim for progress or shall we say improvement of our country's status. How can we solve these problems if there is no cooperation among people? So, if we aim to reach 'progress', we should help each other and always seek for good ways to develop the status of our beloved country. This word 'progress' can also mean proficiency. When we are trying to learn things just like languages, we cannot deny the fact that we aim the progress of our learning. we want our learning to be progressive. But we should not limit our minds to those definitions given above since in English grammar, being progressive is also applied to tenses of verbs which means continuous.
Language Focused
The second set of tenses is the progressive tenses. It denotes actions which are continuous or in other words, on-going actions. From being simple, tenses have stepped onto the next level. This set is actually divided also into three: present progressive, past progressive and future progressive tenses.
Q: How is the present progressive tense of the verbs formed?
The present progressive tense is formed with the use of the present forms of verb be which are am, is, and are plus the -ing form of the main verb.
Q: What does it indicate?
The present continuous or present progressive tense indicates:
1. An action going on at the time of speaking
Examples:
☻They are identifying the victims.
☻Jack is reflecting our own fears.
2. Simple futurity or a future action
Examples:
☻My father is leaving for the province tonight.
☻The students are taking up the essay tomorrow.
Some expressions that indicate that the action is going on at the time of speaking are right now, as of this moment, and at present. Time clauses starting with while also indicate an action in progress.
Q: How about past progressive tense? What is its structure?
The past continuous or past progressive tense is made up of either was or were which are the past forms of the verb be and the -ing form of the main verb.
Q: What does it suggest?
The past continuous or past progressive tense suggests:
1. A past action going on at some specific past time.
Example:
Situation - You seemed to be having a very lively discussion in your English class. What were you talking about?
☻We were talking about Arnold. We were giving him some advice on how to become a more trustful person. We were still discussing it until 2:00 PM. Finally, our teacher, who was listening to our discussion, interrupted us.
2. A past action going on at the time when another past action occurred. It expresses two past actions as indicated in the main and dependent clause - the first is expressed in the past progressive while the second is in the simple past.
Examples:
☻While or teacher was giving her opinion on Arnold's action, the bell rang.
☻A loud explosion was heard while they were holding a meeting.
3. The past progressive of go and an infinitive is used to denote an action which was planned or intended but did not occur.
Examples:
☻He was going to approach her but he did not have enough courage.
☻The students of Ateneo de Manila were going to visit the zoo but it rained cats and dogs.
Note: When two past actions and the sequence of their occurrence are referred to, the two clauses in the sentence will indicate one past action which occurred while another past action was going on. This is expressed in the simple past for one past action and the past progressive for the action in progress. The connective while is commonly used in this case.
Examples:
☻While James was falling down the cliff, he grabbed a branch that stopped his fall.
☻Ramon heard a voice from somewhere while he was yelling for hours and was almost giving up.
On the other hand, when the two past actions have taken place at the same time, the past tense for both verbs are used. The clauses are commonly joined by when.
Examples:
☻When Jack walked along a steep cliff, a man saw him.
☻Ralph promised to serve God for the rest of his life when he heard His voice.
Q: There is also what we call future progressive tense. What does it express?
Actually, future continuous or future progressive tense expresses the same as what simple future tense expresses that indicates an action which will take place in the future. But the little difference is that, future progressive tense focuses on on-going actions in some future time.
Q: How is it formed?
It is formed by just simply using either will be or shall be plus the -ing form of the verb.
Examples:
☻Women will be working with men in almost areas very soon.
☻The farmers will be receiving help from the government.
Note: There are other ways to express futurity such as: the simple present, the present progressive and the future progressive tenses. The following constructions may also be used:
a.) am, is, or are + going + to + the main verb
b.) am, is, or are + about to + the main verb
Examples:
☻The Filipino masses are going to get stronger someday.
☻They are about to unify for genuine change.
*The last sentence has no time expression because about to means in the very near future.
Test of Learning
A. Give the present progressive tense of the verbs to complete each sentence.
1. The sun _______. (shine)
2. What ___ you ____? (do)
3. It _______ again. (rain)
4. Yes, he _______ his best now. (try)
5. They _______ to China next year. (go)
6. I _______ from Manila International Airport. (leave)
7. Jommy _______ here this weekend. (come)
8. ___ you ____ the truth? (tell)
9. We ___ just ____ breakfast. (have)
10. The birds _______. (sing)
B. Turn the underlined verbs into the past progressive by rewriting the sentences using that form.
Example:
►I ran to the station and I met the mother of my friend.
→ As I was running to the station, I met the mother of my friend.
1. The girls played badminton the whole afternoon.
2. Mother washed my shirts while my cousins kept on bothering her.
3. He said that the carpenters worked all day on Saturday.
4. The man looked at the wares; the thief stole his briefcase.
5. I dug the garden and Mary played tennis.
6. She worked diligently; her friends amused themselves.
7. He looked at the barn; his wife surveyed the entire house.
8. He often complained that the house was warm.
9. They prepared for the picnic; it rained.
10. What did she say about your latest girlfriend?
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