Progressive Aspect

Examples of the progressive aspect

Some examples of the progressive tense include:

Here we can see that the progressive aspect shows that the subject (he) is performing an ongoing action (playing) that is not yet complete.

Here we can see that the progressive aspect is used to show an ongoing action in the past. We do not know if the action is completed yet.

Here we can see that the progressive aspect is used to show an ongoing action that will happen in the future. The sentence does not state when or whether the action will be completed.

Progressive aspect: combining aspect and tense

Aspect is combined with tense to create verb tenses. We can combine the progressive aspect with one of the three tenses to express an ongoing action or state in the past, present, or future.

The three progressive verb tenses are:

• Past progressive tense

• Present progressive tense

• Future progressive tense

When we combine both tense and aspect, we form a verb phrase - a group of words that function as a verb. Verb phrases in the progressive aspect include the verb to be (am, are, is, was/were, been, being, will be) followed by a verb + ing.

Fig 1. He is writing

Why is the progressive aspect important?

Now that we understand what the progressive aspect is, let's look at how and why it is used in spoken and written English.

The progressive aspect is useful in the English language as it expresses certain time-related characteristics of a sentence. By using the progressive aspect, we understand that the action or state is ongoing and not completed. When combined with tense, it gives us more information about when an ongoing action or state takes (or took) place.

Progressive aspect: past progressive examples

Let's look at an example of the present progressive tense taken from the fictional novel Twilight (2005).

In the example, the main character Bella Swan uses the past progressive tense to describe what she was wearing in the past.

We form the past progressive using the following formula:

past tense of the verb 'to be' (was, were) + verb root (e.g. walk, run, dance) + ing

Let's break the example sentence down:

• The past tense of the verb 'to be' (was) and the verb 'wear' + ing form the verb phrase 'was wearing'

• The verb 'was' tells us that the action ('wearing') occurred in the past

• The verb ending '-ing' tells us that the action was ongoing

• These elements come together to form the past progressive tense

Progressive aspect: present progressive examples

Let's look at an example of the present progressive tense taken from the film Mean Girls (2004).

Here we can see that the present progressive is used to express an action that is ongoing. The girls are in the process of going shopping and have not yet completed the action.

We form the present progressive using the following formula:

present tense of the verb 'to be' (is, are, am) + verb root (e.g. walk, run, dance) + ing

Let's break the example sentence down:

• The present tense of the verb 'to be' (are) and the verb 'go' + ing form the verb phrase 'we're going'

• The verb 'are' tells us that the action ('going') is occurring in the present

• The verb ending '-ing' tells us that the action is ongoing

• These elements come together to form the present progressive tense

Progressive aspect: future progressive examples

Let's look at an example of the future progressive tense taken from the film Lord of the Rings (2001).

Here we can see that the future progressive is used to express an action that will be ongoing in the future. The character Aragorn knows that the event ('swarming') is ongoing, and he does not state if this event will be completed.

We form the future progressive using the following formula:

Future tense of the verb 'to be' (will be) + verb root (e.g. walk, run, dance) + ing

Let's break the example sentence down:

• The future tense of the verb 'to be' (will be) and the verb 'swarm' + ing form the verb phrase 'will be swarming'

• The verb formation 'will be' tells us that the action ('swarm') will be occurring in the future

• The verb ending '-ing' tells us that the action will be ongoing

• These elements come together to form the future progressive tense

Fig 2. By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with orcs!

What is the perfect progressive aspect in English grammar?

The perfect progressive aspect is a combination of the progressive (ongoing) aspect (action in progress) and the perfective (completed) aspect (expressing an action that occurred before a specific point in time).

Like the progressive aspect, we can combine the perfect progressive aspect with the three tenses to make:

• The past perfect progressive aspect

• The present perfect progressive aspect

• The future perfect progressive aspect

We form the perfect progressive using the following formula:

have/has been + verb root + -ing.

Examples of the perfect progressive aspect

Let's have a quick look at some examples of the perfect progressive in each of the three tenses:

Past perfect progressive

The past perfect progressive expresses an ongoing action in the past that was completed later.

Present perfect progressive

The present perfect progressive expresses an action that started in the past and continues into the present.

Future present progressive

The future perfect progressive expresses an action or state of being that will start and continue in the future.