Continuous tenses or (progressive tenses) In this lesson you will be able to improve your English grammar. Past, present and future Continuous - we'll cover them all.
Past continuous tense
1. Past continuous
The past continuous is made from the past tense of the verb be and the –ing form of a verb.
The form is: Was/were + verb + ing.
Examples:
- I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang.
- When the fire started I was watching television.
- I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've decided to get my homework done instead.
- We were talking together last week.
- You were thinking about taking another English class.
2. Past continuous negative form
To make past continuous in negative forms, add "not" before the verb. You can also use a contraction (wasn't / weren't). We use contractions frequently in spoken English.
The form is: Was/were + not + verb + ing.
Examples:
- I wasn't having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang.
- When the fire started I wasn't watching television.
- I wasn't going to spend the day at the beach but I've decided to get my homework done instead.
- We weren't talking together last week.
- You weren't thinking about taking another English class.
- They were not playing.
3. Past continuous (yes/no question)
To make questions in the past continuous, put ‘was’/’were‘ before the subject and add the ‘-ing’ form of the verb.
The form is: Was/were + subject + verb + ing.
Examples:
- Was I having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang?
- When the fire started, was I watching television?
- Was I going to spend the day at the beach?
- Were we talking together last week?
- Were you thinking about taking another English class?
- Were they playing?
4. Past continuous (wh-questions)
Special questions (also known as wh-questions) are questions that require more information in their answers.
They are made using "wh-questions words" such as what, where, when, why, which, who, how, how many, how much.
The form is: Wh-words + was/were + subject + verb + ing.
- Where was he going?
- How were your children getting along?
- Why were the buses running late?
- What was your cat eating?
- Where were the children hiding?
- How was your new car working?
Present continuous tense
1. Present continuous
The present continuous is used for actions that are happening now or for an incomplete action.
This verb is also used when the action is temporary.
The form is: Am, is, are + verb + ing.
Examples:
- You are reading English.
- It is raining at the moment.
- You are constantly complaining to your boss.
- You are still working for the same company.
- Adam and Sam are always arguing.
2. Present continuous negative form
Negative forms are used to talk about things that are not happening at the time of speaking.
To create a negative statement with the present continuous, add "not" after the auxiliary "to be".
The form is: Am, is, are + not + verb + ing.
Examples:
- You are not reading English.
- It is not raining at the moment.
- You are not constantly complaining to your boss.
- You are not still working for the same company.
- Adam and Sam are not always arguing.
3. Present continuous (yes/no question)
To make questions using the present continuous, we invert the subject and 'be'.
The form is: Am, is, are + subject + verb + ing.
Examples:
- Am I reading English?
- Is it raining at the moment?
- Are you constantly complaining to your boss?
- Are you still working for the same company?
- Are Adam and Sam always arguing?
4. Present continuous (wh-questions)
WH-questions are formed by moving the verb BE, and then adding the WH-word (what, where, when, why, which, who, how, how many, how much).
The form is: Wh-questions + Am, is, are + subject + verb + ing.
- What am I eating?
- Why are you crying?
- Where is he going?
- When is she arriving?
- Why is it sleeping?
- When are we leaving?
Future continuous tense
1. Future continuous
The future continuous expresses an incomplete action that will be completed at a later time.
The form is: Will be + verb + ing.
- Next Monday you will be working in your new job.
- I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
- Khalifa will be coming with us.
- I'll be eating with Sara this night so I’m busy.
- Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
- I will be staying here.
2. Future continuous negative form
To make Future continuous negative form, add "not" before the verb + -ing.
You can also use a contraction (won't). We often use contractions in spoken English.
The form is: Will+ not + be + verb + ing.
Examples:
- Next Monday you will not be working in your new job.
- I guess you won't be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
- Adam won't be coming with us.
- I won't be eating with Aya this night so I’m busy.
- Tomorrow he won't still be suffering from his cold.
- I won't be staying here.
3. Future continuous (yes/no question)
To form questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no" answers, follow this format: Will + subject + be + verb + ing.
Examples:- Will you be working Next Monday in your new job?
- Will you be feeling thirsty after working in the sun?
- Will Fathi be coming with us?
- Will he still be suffering from his cold?
- Will I be staying here?
4. Future continuous (wh- questions)
To create Wh-questions in the future continuous, follow this format: Wh-questions + will + subject + be + verb + ing.
Examples:
- What will I be doing?
- Where will you be working?
- How will she be travelling?
- What will he be eating?
- Why will we be studying?
- Why will it be snowing?
- What will they be wearing?
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