This document explains progressive verb tenses. It defines progressive as referring to actions that take place over time rather than a single moment. The three progressive tenses are the present progressive, past progressive, and future progressive. The present progressive uses a form of "to be" plus the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb to show an ongoing action in the present. The past progressive similarly uses a past tense form of "to be" to refer to ongoing past actions. The future progressive will use "will be" plus the present participle to refer to future ongoing actions. Examples are provided to illustrate each progressive tense.

1. Forming Progressive Tenses

2. Simple Tenses
Verbs can show when something happened.
Aidan builds
a sand castle.
This is present
tense. It shows
an action that is
happening now.

3. Simple Tenses
Verbs can show when something happened.
Aidan built a
sand castle.
This is past tense.
It shows an
action that
happened in the
past.

4. Simple Tenses
Verbs can show when something happened.
Aidan will
build a sand
castle.
This is future
tense. It shows
an action that
will happen.

5. Another tense
But what about something that started in the
past and is still happening?

6. Another tense
For this, we need the progressive tense.

7. What does progress mean?
Progress is a word with several meanings:
To move forward toward a goal: I
want to make progress in learning
multiplication facts.
To go forward or onward in space or
time: The train progressed toward its
destination.

8. What does progress mean?
Which definition relates to verb tense?
To move forward toward a goal: I
want to make progress in learning
multiplication facts.
To go forward or onward in space or
time: The train progressed toward its
destination.

9. What does progress mean?
Which definition relates to verb tense?
To go forward or onward in space or
time: The train progressed toward its
destination.

10. Progressive Tenses
Progressive tenses are used to show actions
that take place over a period of time.

11. Present Progressive
The present progressive shows a continuing
action.
The horses are
walking by the
road.

12. Present Progressive
The present progressive shows a continuing
action.
The horses are
walking by the
road.
What do you notice
about the present
progressive?

13. Present Progressive
The present progressive shows a continuing
action.
The beaver is
swimming.

14. Present Progressive
The present progressive shows a continuing
action.
The beaver
is swimming.
Notice that the present
progressive has a form of
the verb to be, along with
the –ing form of the verb

15. Present Progressive
Can you describe the caterpillar’s actions
using the present progressive?
The caterpillar
_______________.

16. Present Progressive
Can you describe the caterpillar’s actions
using the present progressive?
The caterpillar
is crawling.

17. Past Progressive
The past progressive shows an action that
continued for a time in the past.
Last night, the
campfire was burning
on the beach.
How is the past
progressive similar to
the present progressive?

18. Past Progressive
The past progressive shows an action that
continued for a time in the past.
The meerkat was
watching for predators.
Which two words show
the past progressive in
this sentence?

19. Past Progressive
The past progressive shows an action that
continued for a time in the past.
The meerkat was
watching for predators.
Notice that the past
progressive includes the
past tense form of to be.

20. Past Progressive
Can you fill in the missing word to create the
past progressive?
The flowers ________
blooming along the trail.

21. Past Progressive
Can you fill in the missing word to create the
past progressive?
The flowers _were_
blooming along the trail.

22. Future Progressive
The future progressive shows an action that
will continue for a time in the future.
The family will be
kayaking for the next few
hours.
How is the future
progressive different
from the other forms?

23. Future Progressive
The future progressive shows an action that
will continue for a time in the future.
The family will be
kayaking for the next few
hours.
The future progressive
uses will be.

24. Future Progressive
The future progressive shows an action that
will continue for a time in the future.
The frog eggs
_________________
hatching soon.
Can you fill in the
missing words?

25. Future Progressive
The future progressive shows an action that
will continue for a time in the future.
The frog eggs will be
hatching soon.

26. Using the progressive
Write a sentence about the frog. Use the
past, present, or future
progressive form.
Past: was ___________
Present: is ___________
Future: will be________

27. Using the progressive
Write a sentence about the snake. Use the
past, present, or future
progressive form.

28. Using the progressive
Write a sentence about the snake. Use the
past, present, or future progressive form.

29. Why the progressive?
This verb tense is often used in speaking and
informal situations.
I’m just
hanging out
in the forest.

30. Why the progressive?
This verb tense is often used in speaking and
informal situations.
I’m just
hanging out
in the forest.

31. Write some dialogue
Write some dialogue for the speech bubble.
Use the present progressive.

32. Why the progressive?
Progressive forms are also used for
temporary situations.
The frog is
crawling out
of the
container.

33. Write a sentence
Write a sentence to show what is happening
in the picture. Use a progressive form.

34. Time to Reflect
What have you learned about progressive
verb tenses?