Contents
What is continuous aspect? (with examples)
The continuous aspect (or progressive aspect as it is also called) is the aspect of a verb that expresses an ongoing action.
In other words,“continuous aspect“is the collective term for verbs (in the past tense, present tense, or future tense) in a continuous (or progressive) tense.
The“Continuing (or Progressive) Aspect“Verbs
In total, there are 12 beats. The following table shows the four aspects and the three tenses in each aspect.
| The“Simple Aspect“Tenses | Examples |
|---|---|
| The simple aspect is used to describe facts and habits. | |
| Simple Present Tense |
|
| Simple Past Tense |
|
| Simple Future Tense |
|
| The“Continuing (or Progressive) Aspect“Tenses | Examples |
|---|---|
| The continuing aspect expresses ongoing actions. | |
| Present Continuous Tense |
|
| Past Continuous Tense |
|
| Future Continuous Tense |
|
| The“Perfect (or Complete) Aspect“Tenses | Examples |
|---|---|
| The perfect aspect expresses completed actions. | |
| Present Perfect Tense |
|
| Past Perfect Tense |
|
| Future Perfect Tense |
|
| The“Perfect Continuous Aspect“Tenses | Examples |
|---|---|
| The perfect continuous aspect expresses the end of an ongoing action. | |
| Present Perfect Continuous Tense |
|
| Past Perfect Continuous Tense |
|
| Future Perfect Continuous Tense |
|
Examples of Verbs in the Continuing Aspect
Aquí hay algunos ejemplos de verbos en el aspecto continuo. Los verbos en el aspecto continuo son reconocibles por el participio presente (es decir, la palabra que termina en“-ing“).
In the Past Tense
- I was going.
(past continuing tense) - They were eating.
(past continuing tense)
In the Present Tense
- I am going.
(present continuing tense) - We are cleaning.
(present continuing tense)
In the Future Tense
- I will be going.
(future continuing tense) - You will be acting.
(future continuing tense)
Forming the Continuing (Progressive) Aspect
El aspecto continuo se forma usando una forma del verbo auxiliar“to be“and the present participle. For example:
Forming the Past Continuing Tense
“was“or“were“+ [present participle]
- They were eating.
Forming the Present Continuing Tense
“is“or“are“+ [present participle]
- He is eating.
- We are eating.
Forming the Future Continuing Tense
“will be“+ [present participle]
- He will be eating.
Verb Tenses Showing the Continuing Aspect
Here are the 12 counts again. This time, the tenses are arranged under the headings of past tense, present tense, and future tense.
| The 4 Past Tenses | Example |
|---|---|
| simple past tense | I went |
| past continuing tense | I was going |
| past perfect tense | I had gone |
| past perfect continuing tense | I had been going |
| The 4 Present Tenses | Example |
| simple present tense | I go |
| present continuing tense | I am going |
| present perfect tense | I have gone |
| present perfect continuing tense | I have been going |
| The 4 Future Tenses | Example |
| simple future tense | I will go |
| future continuing tense | I will be going |
| future perfect tense | I will have gone |
| future perfect continuing tense | I will have been going |
Why Should I Care about the Continuing Aspect?
Los hablantes nativos de inglés pueden usar los doce tiempos verbales sin pensar dos veces en la gramática. Sin embargo, si estás aprendiendo o enseñando inglés, debes dedicar tiempo a aprender los tiempos porque expresar cuando algo ocurre es una habilidad de comunicación fundamental. Sin embargo, recuerda que los tiempos verbales no solo nos dicen si algo es una acción pasada, presente o futura. También nos dicen si la acción es habitual, completa o en curso (llamados los aspectos).
The trick to learning tenses is to master the following:
- The verb“to be“in all its forms (am, is, are, was, were, will be)
- The verb“to have“in all its forms (has, have, had, will have)
- Present participles, i.e., the“ing“form of verbs (e.g., running, dancing, seeing)
- Past participles (e.g., ran, danced, seen)
