PRESENT. PAST. PAST PERFECT.
Being ——. Been. Having been ——.
* * * * *
LESSON 136.
FORMS OF THE VERB—CONTINUED.
CONJUGATION—PROGRESSIVE AND PASSIVE FORMS.
A verb is conjugated in the +progressive form+ by joining its present participle to the different forms of the verb be.
A transitive verb is conjugated in the +passive voice+ by joining its past participle to the different forms of the verb be.
+Remark+.—The progressive form denotes a continuance of the action or being; as, The birds are singing.
Verbs that in their simple form denote continuance—such as love, respect, know—should not be conjugated in the progressive form. We say, I love the child—not I am loving the child.
+Remarks+.—The progressive form is sometimes used with a passive meaning; as, The house is building. In such cases the word in ing was once a verbal noun preceded by the preposition a, a contraction from on or in; as, While the ark was a preparing; While the flesh was in seething. In modern language the preposition is dropped, and the word in ing is treated adjectively.