PROGRESSIVE VERB PHRASES
132. We have learned how to form the three principal time forms, present, past and future and the perfect or completed form of each of the three, present perfect, past perfect and future perfect. And still we have such a wonderful language that we can express other shades of meaning in time.
133. There is still another phase of action which we must have a verb phrase to express. Suppose you want to describe something you are now doing and are continuing to do, something not yet completed. To say, I do it now, is not satisfactory. Instead we say, I am doing it now.
You have by the verb phrase, am doing, described a progressive action, an action going on in the present. You may also want to describe what you were doing yesterday, an action that continued or progressed in the past. You would not say, I built the house yesterday but, I was building the house yesterday. Again you may want to describe an action which will be progressing or going on in the future. You do not say, I shall build the house next week but, I shall be building the house next week.
So we have progressive verb phrases.
134. The present progressive describes an action as continuing or progressing in the present.
It is formed by using the present time form of the verb be and the present participle.
You remember that the present participle is formed by adding ing to the simple form of the verb.
| Present Progressive | |
|---|---|
| Singular | Plural |
| 1st. I am seeing. | We are seeing. |
| 2d. You are seeing. | You are seeing. |
| 3d. He is seeing. | They are seeing. |
135. The past progressive time form describes an action which was continuing or progressing in the past. It is formed by using the past time form of the verb be and the present participle.