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Use of Continuous/ Progressive Tense – Present, Past & Future

Vishal Gupta
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In my previous blog, I had told you about the use Present, Past and Future Indefinite Tenses. You can read that use from here. This blog post is dedicated to Continuous Tense. It means I will tell you about the use of Present Continuous, Past Continuous and Future Continuous Tense along with their structures. So without delay, let’s start their use –

Translation Practice Sets

Present Continuous Tense –

Structure –

Aff – Sub + is/am/are + v 1 + ing + obj.

Neg – Sub + is/am/are + not + v 1 + ing + obj.

Note :– Is not – Isn’t

Am not – Ain’t

Are not – Aren’t

Int. – Is/ Am/ Are + Sub+ v 1 + ing + obj ?

Use of Present Continuous Tense –

1. To show continuity of action in the present time with the words such as still, this time, these days, now, now-a-days, this moment etc.

e.g. What are you doing these days ?

She is preparing for exams these days.

2. To show future also –

We are going to Delhi next week.

Past Continuous Tense –

Structure –

It shows continuity of the past.

  • Sub + was/were + v 1 + ing + obj.
  • Sub + was/were + not + v 1 + ing + obj.
  • Was/Were + Sub+ v 1 + ing + obj ?

Note :– Was not – Wasn’t

Were not – Weren’t

1. To show continuity of action in the past time with the words such as that time, those days, then, at that moment etc.

e.g. What were you doing those days ?

1.Children were playing this time those days.

2. If in one part past indefinite tense is given and action demands continuity, we use past continuous tense in the 2nd part –

e.g. When he came here, I was sleeping.

Future Continuous – It shows continuity in Future.

Structure –

  • Sub + will be / shall be + v 1 + ing + obj.
  • Sub + will/ shall + not + be + v 1 + ing + obj.
  • Will/ Shall + Sub+ be + v 1 + ing + obj ?

Note – Will Not – Won’t

Shall Not – Shan’t

Use of Future Continuous Tense –

With the future indicating words such as tomorrow, next etc. to show continuity of action –

e.g Children will be playing this time tomorrow.

Teacher will be teaching at present the day after tomorrow.

Read the use of Perfect Tense.

Prepare all the topics of Grammar from this link

Thanks.

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