CONTINUOUS VERB TENSES

SIMPLE VERB CONTINUOUS

​

1. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
2. PAST CONTINUOUS
3. FUTURE CONTINUOUS

​

SIMPLE VERB CONTINUOUS

• PRESENT CONTINUOUS

​

SIMPLE VERB CONTINUOUS

• PRESENT CONTINUOUS
• Use ‘am’ with the personal pronoun I.
• Use ‘is’ with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular forms of nouns.)
• Use ‘are’ with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns.)

Uses of PRESENT CONTINUOUS�1. Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now).�

HE IS PLAYING FOOTBALL.

• The action is going on now. Signal words like now, at the moment are often used to emphasize that the action is taking place at the moment of speaking. Signal words are not really necessary expressed by the tense itself.

Uses of PRESENT CONTINUOUS�2.Arrangements for the near future.�

I’M GOING TO THE THEATRE TONIGHT.

• In the example you can see that the tickets are already bought.
• So we are talking about an arrangement for the near future.
• To make clear that the action is not going on now, we usually use signal words like tonight, tomorrow, next Friday, at noon.

Uses of PRESENT CONTINUOUS�3. Actions taking place only for a limited period of time.�

JIM IS HELPING IN HIS BROTHER’S FIRM THIS WEEK.

• Here we are talking about a time limit.
• Jim does not usually work in the firm; he is still at school and wants to earn some extra money during his holidays.
• To make clear that there is a time limit, we usually use signal words, e.g. this week/month/ year.

Uses of PRESENT CONTINUOUS�4. Actions taking place around now(but not at the moment of speaking.�

I’M STUDYING FOR MY EXAMS.

• This action takes place around now and only for a limited period of time, but not at the moment of speaking.
• we don’t have to use signal words here, but we often find signal words in such sentences, e.g. now, at the moment.

Uses of PRESENT CONTINUOUS�5. Development, changing situations.�

THE POPULATION OF CHINA IS RISING VERY FAST.

• The sentence describes a development from one situation to another.
• Signal words are not that common here, only sometimes the change of situation is emphasized by using more and more.

Uses of PRESENT CONTINUOUS�5. Repetition and Irritation with “Always”�

HE IS ALWAYS COMING LATE TO CLASS.

• The present continuous with words such as “always” or “constantly” expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion.
• Remember to put the words “always” or constantly between “be” and “verb +ing.”

PRESENT CONTINUOUS�

• Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate present continuous tense.

�1. Shhhhh ! Be quiet! John (sleep) _________. ��2. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) _____________. ��3. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) ___________. ��4. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)__________  because everybody (talk)__________  so loudly. ��5. Justin _____________(write, currently)  a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. ��6. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?�Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) __________ to a movie tonight with some friends. ��

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

PRESENT CONTINUOUS�

• Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate present continuous tense.

�1. Shhhhh ! Be quiet! John (sleep) _is sleeping__. ��2. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) _is raining_. ��3. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) __is always raining__. ��4. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)_are saying_  because everybody (talk)__is talking_  so loudly. ��5. Justin _is currently writing__(write, currently)  a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. ��6. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?�Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) _am going_ to a movie tonight with some friends. ��

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS

• PAST CONTINUOUS

​

SIMPLE VERB CONTINUOUS

SIMPLE VERB CONTINUOUS

• PAST CONTINUOUS
• Use ‘was’ with the personal pronouns I, he, she or it (or the singular forms of nouns.)
• Use ‘were’ with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns.)

�Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�1. puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.�

HE WAS PLAYING FOOTBALL.

​

�Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�2.two actions happening at the same time in the past.�

WHILE SHE WAS PRERARING DINNER, HE WAS WASHING THE DISHES.

�Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�3. action going on at a certain time in the past.�

WHEN I WAS HAVING BREAKFAST, THE PHONE SUDDENLY RANG.

�Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�5. The action or situation had already started before this time but had not finished.�

WHEN THE PHONE RANG, SHE WAS WRITING A LETTER.

WHILE WE WERE HAVING THE PICNIC, IT STARTED TO RAIN.

�Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�6. Specific Time as an interruption�

LAST NIGHT AT 6 PM, I WAS EATING DINNER.

YESTERDAY AT THIS TIME , I WAS SITTING AT MY DESK AT WORK.

�Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�6. Atmosphere�

WHEN I WALKED INTO THE OFFICE, SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE BUSILY TYPING, SOME WERE TALKING ON THE PHONE, THE BOSS WAS YELLING, AND CUSTOMERS WERE WAITING TO BE HELPED.

• In English we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.

Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�7. Repetition and Irritation with “Always”�

HE WAS ALWAYS COMING LATE TO CLASS.

• The past continuous with words such as “always” or “constantly” expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened on the past. The concept is very similar to the expression “used to”but with negative emotion.
• Remember to put the words “always” or constantly between “be” and “verb +ing.”

Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS �Other examples:

HE WAS CONSTANTLY TALKING.

I WISH HE WOULD SHUT UP.

I DON’T LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS COMPLAINING.

Uses of PAST CONTINUOUS�7. While vs. When�

• Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word “when” such as “when she called” when it bit me”. Other clauses begin with “while” such as While she was sleeping and while he was surfing . When you talk about things in the past, "when is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas “while” is usually followed by Past Continuous. While” expresses the idea of “during tha time”. Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasized different parts of the sentence.

• I was studying when she called.
• While I was studying, she called.

​

Use the past continuous tense in the sentences given.

1.My brother and sister ________  (play) tennis at 11am yesterday.

2 .______(be)you still working at 7pm last night?

3.At 8.30am today I  __________ (drive) to work.

4.We  ______(be)sleeping at 11pm.

5.Why  ______(be) he having lunch at 4pm?

6.I  met John in town yesterday. He__________  (shop). 

7.Mary_________  (wait) for me when I arrived. 

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Use the past continuous tense in the sentences given.

1. My brother and sister _was playing___  (play) tennis at 11am yesterday.

2. _Were__(be)you still working at 7pm last night?

3. At 8.30am today I was driving (drive) to work.

4. We  _weren’t__(be /not)sleeping at 11pm.

5. Why  _was__(be) he having lunch at 4pm?

6. I  met John in town yesterday. He was shopping  (shop). 

7. Mary_was waiting_  (wait) for me when I arrived. 

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS

SIMPLE VERB CONTINUOUS

• FUTURE CONTINUOUS

​

SIMPLE VERB CONTINUOUS

• FUTURE CONTINUOUS
• WILL BE with the personal pronoun I.
• WILL BE with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular forms of nouns.)
• WILL BE with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns.)

Uses of FUTURE CONTINUOUS�1. Interrupted Action in the Future.�

I WILL BE WATCHING TV WHEN SHE ARRIVES TONIGHT...

• Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future..
• Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Uses of FUTURE CONTINUOUS Other examples:

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU WHEN YOUR BUS ARRIVES.

​

I AM GOING TO BE STAYING AT THE MADISON HOTEL, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS AND YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME.

Uses of FUTURE CONTINUOUS�2.Specific time as an Interruption in the Future�

TONIGHT AT 6 PM, WE ARE GOING TO BE EATING DINNER.

AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT ,WE WILL STILL BE DRIVING THROUGH THE DESERT.

Uses of FUTURE CONTINUOUS�3. Parallel Actions in the Future

I AM GOING TO BE STUDYING AND HE IS GOING TO BE MAKING DINNER

• When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Uses of FUTURE CONTINUOUS�other examples:

TONIGHT, THEY WILL BE EATING DINNER, DISCUSSING THEIR PLANS, AND HAVING A GOOD TIME

​

WHILE ELLEN IS TALKING, TIM WILL BE LISTENING.

Uses of FUTURE CONTINUOUS�4. Atmosphere in the Future

IN ENGLISH, WE OFTEN USE A SERIES OF PARALLEL ACTIONS TO DESCRIBE ATMOSPHERE AT A SPECIFIC POINT IN THE FUTURE.

• When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza, and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.

​

Use the future continuous for the sentences below:

1. He  will be waiting  (wait) for quite some time.�2. Tomorrow at this time I  ____________ (dance) at a party.�3. Next week at this time I ____________ (sunbathe) at the beach.�4. At 5 o'clock you ___________ (help) your brother.�5. This evening at 8 o'clock, she ___________ (watch) a movie with her friends.

6. At three o’clock tomorrow, I_________  (work) in my office.

7. Tonight they __________ (talk), ____________ (dance) and _________ (have) a good time.�8. It__________ (rain) tonight.

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Use the future continuous for the sentences below:

​

1. He  will be waiting  (wait) for quite some time.�2. Tomorrow at this time I  will be dancing (dance) at a party.�3. Next week at this time I  will be sunbathing (sunbathe) at the beach.�4. At 5 o'clock you  will be helping  (help) your brother.�5. This evening at 8 o'clock, she  will be watching  (watch) a movie with her friends.

6. At three o’clock tomorrow, I_will be working (work) in my office.

7. Tonight they will be talking  (talk), _dancing_ (dance) and _having_ (have) a good time.�8. It will be raining (rain) tonight.

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS

PRESENT PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

​

1. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
2. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
3. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

​

PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• PRESENT PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• HAS BEEN with the personal pronouns , he, she or it (or the singular forms of nouns.)
• HAVE BEEN with the personal pronouns I, you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns.)

���Uses of PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS���

JAMES HAS BEEN TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY SINCE JUNE.

1. DURATION FROM THE PAST UNTIL NOW

• We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. “For five years”, for two weeks” and since Tuesday are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continous.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 30 MINUTES?

SHE HAS BEEN WORKING AT THAT COMPANY FOR 3 YEARS?

���Uses of PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS���

RECENTLY , I HAVE BEEN FEELING REALLY TIRED

2.RECENTLY, LATELY

• You can use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration as “ for two weeks”. Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of “lately”. We often use the words “lately “ or ” recently” to emphasize the meaning.

SHE HAS BEEN WATCHING TOO MUCH TELEVISION LATELY.

HAVE YOU BEEN EXERCISING LATELY?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS� ADVERB PLACEMENT�

• The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
• Examples:
• You have only been waiting here for one hour.
• Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

​

1.I'm exhausted. I_______________(study) in the library all day.

2.It_______________ ( snow) a lot this week.

3. your brother and sister been getting along?�4.How long ______(you/teach)  German?

5. We _______(watch) TV for 3 hours.

6. You _______(work)  too hard today.

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1.I'm exhausted. I have been studying (study) in the library all day.

2.It has been snowing ( snow) a lot this week.

3. Have (you /get) brother and sister been getting along?�4. How long have you been teaching (you/teach) German?

5. We have been watching (watch) TV for 3 hours.

6. She has been working (work)  too hard today.

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS

PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• PAST PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• Use HAD BEEN with the personal pronouns , he, she or it (or the singular forms of nouns.)
• Use HAD BEEN with the personal pronouns I, you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns.)

���Uses of PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS���

THEY HAD BEEN TALKING FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE TONY ARRIVED.

1. DURATION BEFORE SOMETHING IN THE PAST

• We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. For” five minutes” and “for two weeks” are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

������

HOW LONG HAD YOU BEEN WAITING TO GET ON THE BUS?

YOU HAD BEEN WAITING THERE FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS WHEN SHE FINALLY ARRIVED.

���Uses of PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS���

JASON WAS TIRED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN RIDING A HORSE.

2. CAUSE OF SOMETHING IN THE PAST

• We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. For” five minutes” and “for two weeks” are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

������

SAM GAINED WEIGHT BECAUSE

HE HAD BEEN OVEREATING.

BETTY FAILED THE FINAL TEST BECAUSE SHE HAD NOT BEEN ATTENDING CLASS.

Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous

• If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the Past Continuous rather than the Past Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence. Past Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the past. Study the next slide below to understand the difference.

​

​

​

Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous�

PAST CONTINUOUS

​

• .

​

• This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he was exercising at that exact moment.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

​

​

​

• This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he had been exercising over a period of time. It is possible that he was still exercising at that moment OR that he had just finished.

He was tired because he was exercising so hard

He was tired because he had been exercising so hard.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS ADVERB PLACEMENT:�

• The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
• Examples:
• You had only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived.
• Had you only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived?

​

1.They ______________ (shout) for a few hours before their parents arrived.

​

2.They ______________ (eat) noisily for a few hours before their parents arrived.

​

3. They ______________ (play) music at full volume for a few hours before their parents arrived.

​

4. They ______________ (jump )on their parents' bed for a few hours before their parents arrived.

​

5. They ______________ (try) on Mary's clothes for a few hours before their parents arrived.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1.They had been shouting(shout) for a few hours before their parents arrived.

�2.They had been eating (eat) noisily for a few hours before their parents arrived.

�3. They had been playing (play )music at full volume for a few hours before their parents arrived.

�4. They _had been jumping (jump) on their parents' bed for a few hours before their parents arrived.

�5. They _had been trying_ (try) on Mary's clothes for a few hours before their parents arrived.

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS

FUTURE PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• FUTURE PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

FUTURE PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• FUTURE PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• WILL HAVE BEEN with the personal pronouns , he, she or it (or the singular forms of nouns.)
• WILL HAVE BEEN with the personal pronouns I, you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns.)

PRESENT PERFECT VERB CONTINUOUS

• FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• IS GOING TO HAVE BEEN with the personal pronouns , he, she or it (or the singular forms of nouns.)
• ARE GOING TO HAVE BEEN with the personal pronouns I, you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns.)

���Uses of FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS���

THEY WILL HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR OVER AN HOUR BY THE TIME MONICA ARRIVED.

1. DURATION BEFORE SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE

• We use the FUTURE Perfect Continuous to show that something WILL CONTINUE up until a particular event or time in the future. For” five minutes” “since Friday “and “for two weeks” are both durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does stops at or before a reference point in the future.

������

SHE IS GOING TO HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THAT COMPANY FOR THREE YEARS WHEN IT FINALLY CLOSES.

HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE BEEN STUDYING WHEN YOU GRADUATE?

������

MANNY WILL BE TIRED WHEN HE GETS HOME BECAUSE HE WILL HAVE BEEN JOGGING FOR OVER AN HOUR.

2. CAUSE OF SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE

• Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the Future is a good way to show cause and effect.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous�

• If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous rather than the Future Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence.
• Future Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas Future Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the future. Study the next slide to understand the difference.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous

HE WILL BE TIRED BECAUSE HE WILL BE EXERCISING SO HARD.

​

• This sentence emphasizes that he will be tired because he will be exercising at that exact moment in the future.

​

• This sentence emphasizes that he will be tired because he will have been exercising for a period of time. It is possible that he will still be exercising at that moment OR that he will just have finished.

He will be tired because he will be exercising so hard.

He will be tired because he will have been exercising so hard.

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

• ADVERB PLACEMENT
• The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
• Examples:
• You will only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.
• Will you only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?
• You are only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.
• Are you only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?

​

1. By midnight, you____________ (dance) for 4 hours.�2. By dinner, she_____________ (cook) the whole afternoon.�3. He ____________ (work) there for 10 years by 2015.�4. By next year, I ____________(study) English for 7 years.�5. By next week, we ______________(renovate) for over a

month.�6. In 2012, they _______________ (live) here for 4 years.�7. Before December, Barbara ________________ (teach) for a

year.�8. By this time tomorrow, I ______________ (do) this exercise

for a long time.�9. Jessica _______________ (help) them for 12 months.

10. Bob and Sarah ___________ (cook) for 2 hours

at 8 o'clock.

​

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. By midnight, you will have been dancing (dance) for 4 hours.
2. By dinner, she will have been cooking (cook) the whole afternoon.
3. He will have been working (work) there for 10 years by 2015.
4. By next year, I will have been studying (study) English for 7

years.

5. By next week, we will have been renovating (renovate) for over a

month.

6. In 2012, they will have been living (live) here for 4 years.
7. Before December, Barbara will have been teaching (teach) for a

year.

8. By this time tomorrow, I will have been doing (do) this exercise for

a long time.

9. Jessica will have been helping (help) them for 12 months.
10. Bob and Sarah will have been cooking (cook) for 2 hours

at 8 o'clock.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS