What Is the Continuing Aspect? (with Examples)
The continuing aspect (or progressive aspect as it's more commonly called) is the aspect of a verb that expresses an on-going action.Continuing aspect is the collective term for verbs (past, present, or future) in a continuing (or progressive) tense. (This covers the perfect progressive tenses too.)
Examples of Verbs in the Continuing Aspect
Here are some examples of verbs in the continuing aspect. Verbs in the continuing aspect are recognizable by the present participle (i.e., the word which ends –ing). The list below includes verbs in the progressive tenses and the perfect progressive tenses.In the Past Tense
- I was going. (progressive tense)
- They were eating. (progressive tense)
- She had been feeling. (perfect progressive tense)
- I am going. (progressive tense)
- We are cleaning. (progressive tense)
- It has been recovering. (perfect progressive tense)
- I will be going. (progressive tense)
- You will be acting. (progressive tense)
- He will have been flying. (perfect progressive tense)
Forming the Continuing (Progressive) Aspect
The continuing aspect is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb to be and the present participle. For example:Forming the Past Progressive Tense
"was" or "were" + present participle
- They were eating.
"is" or "are" + present participle
- He is eating.
- We are eating.
"will be" + present participle
- He will be eating.
Forming the Past Perfect Progressive Tense
"had" + "been" + present participle
- They had been eating.
"has" or "have" + "been" + present participle
- He has been eating.
- We have been eating.
"will have" + "been" + present participle
- He will have been eating.
Verb Tenses Showing the Continuing Aspect
Here is a list of the verb tenses. The ones in the continuing aspect are shaded.| The 4 Past Tenses | Example |
|---|---|
| simple past tense | I went |
| past progressive tense | I was going |
| past perfect tense | I had gone |
| past perfect progressive tense | I had been going |
| The 4 Present Tenses | Example |
| simple present tense | I go |
| present progressive tense | I am going |
| present perfect tense | I have gone |
| present perfect progressive tense | I have been going |
| The 4 Future Tenses | Example |
| simple future tense | I will go |
| future progressive tense | I will be going |
| future perfect tense | I will have gone |
| future perfect progressive tense | I will have been going |
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