🕰️ Detailed Explanation of Using the Progressive Verb Tenses

Progressive verb tenses are very important in English because they show actions that are happening over a period of time. When you learn how to use progressive tenses, you can make your writing and speech sound clearer and more interesting.

❓ What Are Progressive Verb Tenses?

Progressive verb tenses describe actions that are ongoing or continuous. Instead of just saying something happens, they tell us that it is happening right now, was happening in the past, or will be happening in the future. These tenses always use a form of the verb “to be” plus the main verb ending in -ing.

📚 Forms of Progressive Verb Tenses

There are three main progressive tenses that Year 6 students should know:

  1. Present Progressive (Present Continuous)
    This shows an action happening right now or around this time.
    Form: am/is/are + verb-ing
    Example: She is reading a book.
    Example: They are playing football in the park.
  2. Past Progressive (Past Continuous)
    This shows an action that was happening at a specific time in the past.
    Form: was/were + verb-ing
    Example: He was watching TV when I called.
    Example: We were walking home when it started to rain.
  3. Future Progressive (Future Continuous)
    This shows an action that will be happening at a particular time in the future.
    Form: will be + verb-ing
    Example: I will be studying at 7 o’clock tonight.
    Example: They will be travelling to London tomorrow.

🔍 How to Recognise Progressive Verb Tenses

  • Look for the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, will be) + a verb ending in -ing.
  • Think about the time the action is happening: now, in the past, or in the future.
  • The action talked about is not finished but continuing over a time period.

✍️ Tips for Using Progressive Verb Tenses in Writing and Speech

  • Use the present progressive to describe things that are happening right now to make your story or description feel alive.
    Example: “I am listening to music while I work.”
  • Use the past progressive to describe things that were happening when something else took place.
    Example: “She was drawing when the phone rang.”
  • Use the future progressive when you want to say what you plan to be doing at some time in the future.
    Example: “Tomorrow, I will be playing football after school.”
  • To get better at recognising these tenses, practice by finding sentences in books or listening carefully when people speak.
  • Try making your own sentences using these forms to describe your daily routine or past experiences.

Understanding and using the progressive verb tenses helps you tell clearer stories and explain actions in more detail, which is very useful in both writing and speaking! 🎉

📝 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on the Progressive Verb Tenses for Year 6

Present Progressive Tense Questions

  1. Fill in the blank:
    She _______ (watch) TV right now.
    Answer: is watching
  2. Multiple choice:
    Which sentence is in the present progressive tense?
    a) He plays football.
    b) He is playing football.
    c) He played football.
    Answer: b) He is playing football.
  3. Correct the sentence:
    They is running in the park.
    Answer: They are running in the park.
  4. Fill in the blank:
    My friends _______ (study) for the test at the moment.
    Answer: are studying
  5. Choose the correct option:
    I _______ (am, is, are) reading a book.
    Answer: am

Past Progressive Tense Questions

  1. Fill in the blank:
    Yesterday, I _______ (play) video games all afternoon.
    Answer: was playing
  2. Multiple choice:
    Which sentence is past progressive?
    a) She eats lunch.
    b) She was eating lunch.
    c) She will eat lunch.
    Answer: b) She was eating lunch.
  3. Correct the sentence:
    We was singing during the party.
    Answer: We were singing during the party.
  4. Fill in the blank:
    They _______ (walk) home when it started to rain.
    Answer: were walking
  5. Choose the correct form:
    I _______ (was, were) reading when the phone rang.
    Answer: was

Future Progressive Tense Questions

  1. Fill in the blank:
    Tomorrow, she _______ (travel) to London.
    Answer: will be travelling
  2. Multiple choice:
    Identify the future progressive sentence:
    a) He is going to school.
    b) He will be going to school.
    c) He went to school.
    Answer: b) He will be going to school.
  3. Correct the sentence:
    I will be play football next Saturday.
    Answer: I will be playing football next Saturday.
  4. Fill in the blank:
    At 8 o’clock tonight, we _______ (have) dinner.
    Answer: will be having
  5. Choose the correct form:
    They _______ (will be, is, are) watching a movie later.
    Answer: will be

Mixed Progressive Tense Questions

  1. Fill in the blank:
    Right now, he _______ (write) a letter, but yesterday he _______ (write) an email.
    Answer: is writing; was writing
  2. Multiple choice:
    Which of these shows past and future progressive correctly?
    a) I will be working and I was working.
    b) I am working and I will working.
    c) I will work and I was work.
    Answer: a) I will be working and I was working.
  3. Correct the sentence:
    She will singing and was dancing later.
    Answer: She will be singing and was dancing later.
  4. Fill in both blanks:
    They _______ (watch) TV now and _______ (watch) a film tomorrow evening.
    Answer: are watching; will be watching
  5. Choose the correct pairs:
    Present progressive: I _______ (am eating/was eating)
    Past progressive: I _______ (was eating/will be eating)
    Future progressive: I _______ (will be eating/am eating)
    Answer: am eating; was eating; will be eating

📝 These questions help you practise using the present progressive, past progressive, and future progressive tenses. Remember, the progressive tense shows actions that are happening, were happening, or will be happening for a period of time!