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Chapter 1: Time and Action – Using Verbs

IV. Continuous Tense: Expansion and Exercises

In studying the Simple Tense, we have looked briefly at what the Continuous Tense is, comparing it to the Simple Tense in order to better understand the Simple Tense.  We will now focus specifically on the Continuous Tense and get some practice in using it.

1.0 Introduction

 

Media

Video 1.3 Part I Simple Verbs

Download video as PowerPoint [PPTX]

 

1.1 How do We Use the Continuous Tense?

In the continuous tense, time is important.  We use it for a limited action at a limited time.  It is used only for this action at this time.

Example

Today, I am studying all day for my final exam.  (that is filling my time for today)

The Continuous Tense is not usually used for multiple actions, although we can use it to list all of the things that are filling a specific time that we are talking about.

Example

This morning was very busy, I was cleaning my apartment, answering the phone, and watching my young child.  (this could be happening all at the same time)

If the Simple Tense is about an action ‘walking freely’ around in a big area of time, the Continuous Tense is about an action being held in a ‘jail’ of time.  There is always a ‘time jail’—time is mentioned, except in the present, where it is assumed that the action is happening now.

In addition, just like in real life, the time spent in jail can be measured.  It could be very short, a point in time, or it could be longer, even a year or a decade.

With the continuous tense, two types of time restrictions are possible:

  1. The action is quite short, and the time that is mentioned is very exact and it is centered around only a point in time.  For example: at 4:00 a.m.  I was eating breakfast.  Here, the time is more of a time marker, and it is like an action that is attached to a pocket watch.
  2. For a longer period of time, the action is also ‘sentenced’ to the jail cell for a period of time. A person in jail could have a sentence of one day in jail, or it could be years. In the same way, the action of the Continuous Tense has a period of time (a ‘jail sentence’) attached to it.

    Example

    I was studying for the test all day yesterday.

    Remember also that the action is continuous for the stated time period. It doesn’t start and stop—there are no ‘vacations’. Of course, just like being in prison, you might be let out into the exercise yard for a short time. However, you spend most of your time in the jail cell. In the same way, there might be a very short break in the continuous action, but it doesn’t completely stop and then start again. There is progress in the action.

Example: Verb Tense in Context: My Busy Schedule

Note that not every verb is paired with a certain time. Sometimes, we assume that the action is happening at a time that was already mentioned before.

Last month was a very busy month for our business.  It seems like people were calling all day every day.  We were always trying to catch up on our work.  Then, it seems like a disaster was always happening.  Every day, something was going wrong.  It seemed like people were getting sick, left and right.  We were always filling in for someone who was sick.

This coming week will be very busy.  On Monday, I will be going to class all day.  On Tuesday, I will be working at my job and then coming home and cleaning my apartment.  On Thursday, I have a research paper due, so I will be working on that for most of Wednesday.  On Friday, I am helping my friend move to a new apartment.  Luckily, I don’t have anything that I must do on Saturday, so I will probably be just taking it easy and maybe watching TV.  I don’t know what I will be doing on Sunday, but I’m sure that something will come up.

I have a busy day today.  At 8 o’clock, I will be checking my email.  Then from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., I will be meeting with my boss.  Then, for the rest of the morning, I will be working on a project for a customer.  In the afternoon, I am usually taking a lot of phone calls and trying to keep up with my recordkeeping.  I am working late tonight, but I am leaving for home at 7:30 p.m.  (using the present continuous to talk about the future).  It will be an exhausting [participle—not a verb] day, so I hope that I don’t fall asleep while I’m driving home from work.

2.0 Compare: Simple and Continuous Verb Tenses

2.1 Time

Table 1.21 Time on Simple and Continuous Tense
Simple Tense Continuous Tense
Time Freedom: Unlimited Time

The action is free to ‘walk around’ in a big area of time, such as the past, present or future.  It could be a smaller area, like ‘in the morning’, but the action is always smaller than the time space.  It could be anywhere in that time space—it is free to walk around.

 Time Jail: Limited Time

The action is in a ‘time jail’.  It must happen there, at that time.It could be just a point in time to mark when it happens.

  • In this case the action happens close to the time mentioned and it is limited.

Examples

I was eating breakfast at 7:00 a.m.

  • I likely started shortly before 7:00 and may or may not continue after that time.

While I was eating breakfast (action), the phone rang (fact).

  • Here I can either continue to eat breakfast, or stop and answer the phone.

It could be a larger time, like last year.  Here the action takes up the whole time (one year).  It happens mostly continuously during that time—it doesn’t start and stop and doesn’t repeat, although of course we all know that short breaks are necessary, like to eat or to sleep.  Still, the action ‘fills up’ that time.
Action has no clear time or clear start and stopping points

Like a pendulum, there is no clear starting or ending time.  Time just keeps going.

The exact time is not clear.  The action could go on forever.

It is ‘fuzzy time’.  The time is not exact.

Examples

I work at Cherry Computers as a computer engineer.  It is a great job.  I have a degree in computer science.  It is my career, and I don’t know if I will ever quit.

Maria and Josie are very good friends.  We don’t know when they became friends or if the friendship will continue.

 Action has clear time and time limits

Like a sand clock—action starts, continues and then stops, but this is not repeated.

Action is limited to a certain exact time—like a ‘time jail’.

The time has clear borders.

Examples

I am working at Joe’s burgers (now).  I don’t like flipping hamburgers.  This is a temporary job.  I plan to quit as soon as I find a better job.

Maria and Jose are dating (it is not going well, so they could break up).
General Time

Action happens sometime within a very large period of time, such as past, present or future, OR a smaller period of time, like a year or ‘this morning’—but we don’t know exactly when it happens within that period of time.

Time is not given or mentioned except when given as a fact (like a history fact).  Facts have no time limits—they are always true.

 Specific Time

Action happens at an exact time or it ‘fills up’ a period of time.

Time of the Action is always given (in the simple present, the time is always now).

Examples: 7:00, yesterday, last week, in 1979, etc.
Time is often not even mentioned
The time could be as small as ‘last year’ or ‘this morning’, but the action is only generally somewhere within that time.Note: If time is mentioned, it is actually a historic fact—facts had no time and are forever.  The emphasis is on the fact and not the action.

Example

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1887.

 Time is mentioned: Three time possibilities
  1. The action is happening at an exact point in time (i.e.  7:00 p.m.).  It may start before the time and may or may not continue after—but the time it happens is limited, and is usually a somewhat short period of time.
  2. In the Continuous Present Tense, time may not be mentioned, but we infer that it is happening now.
  3. The action fills up all of the exact time.
    1. So, we use numbers and time words: 4:00, this morning, noon, 1973, September, one week ago.
    2. The action is mostly continuous through this time—it doesn’t start, stop and then possibly start again later.

2.2 Action

Table 1.22 Action on Simple and Continuous Tense
Simple Tense Continuous Tense
The action may not be continuous

Action could start and stop.  It can repeat.

It can happen randomly (at any unexpected time), or the action could repeat again and again at a certain time.

  • But the time when this repetition started or when it will end is not clear.

Examples

The moon goes around the earth.  (when did it start doing this?  When will it stop doing this?  We don’t know exactly!)

I drink coffee every morning.  (we don’t know when this habit started or when it will end)

2.5 million people live in Vancouver.  (we don’t know exactly when it reached 2.5 million people, and they all moved individually, so we don’t know exactly when they moved here)

 The action is (mostly) continuous

Action is (mostly) continuous.  It doesn’t start and stop.

It can happen at a point in time (i.e. 7:00, now).

  • In this case, the action starts shortly before the point in time and may continue shortly after it (this may be relative—close to 7:00 is very short, but close to 1979 could be longer).


It can fill up a longer period of time—like coffee ‘fills up’ a cup.

Examples

At 6:00 a.m., I was getting ready to go to work.

This afternoon, I was cleaning my apartment.

In 2018, I was working at Cherry Computers.

I am working!  (in the present continuous tense, the time is implied—we all know that I mean now.  At this moment, I am working.)

3.0 Using the Present Continuous Tense to Talk about the Future

At times, we use ‘going to + simple present’ to talk about future plans.

Example

Next month, we are going to go hiking in the Italian Alps.

However, the Present Continuous is sometimes used to talk about things that are planned for the future.

Example

We are leaving for Italy tonight.

4.0 How to Write Continuous Verb Forms

  • The continuous verb tense form is made by adding the appropriate past, present, or future form of the verb BE.
  • Past, Present, Future Verb ‘BE’ + ‘-ing’ form of verb.
  • See below for spelling of ‘-ing’ forms.
Table 1.23 Continuous Verb Forms
Singular Plural
Past: was, were walk(ing)
I was walking
You were walking
(He, she, it) is walking		 We were walking
You (pl) were walking
They were walking
Present: am, is, are walk(ing)
I am walking
You are walking
(He, she, it) is walking		 We are walking
You (pl) are walking
They are walking
Future: will be walk(ing)
I will be walking
You will be walking
(He, she, it) will be walking		 We will be walking
You (pl.) will be walking
They will be walking

4.1 Adding Adverbs

In the continuous tense, adverbs, including adverbs of frequency, are added between the helping verb ‘BE’ and the main verb.

Examples

They are already studying for the final exam.  (adverb)

They are always finding a reason to travel to the Bahamas.  (adverb of frequency)

Adverbs of frequency are not usually used in the continuous tense.  Adverbs of frequency are usually a function of the simple tenses—used for showing how often a repeated action happens.  In the continuous tense, we usually use only ‘always’ and ‘never’ to show that something is ‘too much’.  There is usually some negative emotion associated with this.

Examples

She is always complaining.  (it is too much and is annoying)

They are always partying and never studying.  (they are likely to fail)

4.2 Spelling of Verbs When ‘-ed’ and ‘-ing’ are Added

Table 1.24 Spelling of verbs when ‘-ed’ and ‘-ing’ are added (i.e. past tense verbs, participles, continuous verbs, gerunds)
Verb Base Form -ing -ed Rule
  1. Verbs that end in a vowel + consonant + e
 hope
recite
dare		 hoping
reciting
daring		 hoped
recited
dared		 Drop the -e and add -ing/-ed
  1. Verbs that end in ‘y’
 enjoy
pray
buy		 enjoying
praying
buying		 enjoyed
prayed
bought		 Verbs with vowel + y
  • Add -ing/-ed
study
fry
rely		 studying
frying
relying		 studied
fried
relied		 Verbs with vowel + consonant + y
  • Change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add -ing/-ed
  1. Verbs that end in ‘ie’
 die
lie
tie		 dying
lying
tying		 died
lied
tied		 Change ‘ie’ to ‘y’ and add -ing/-ed
  1. Verbs that end in a vowel + consonant pattern (except -w, -x, or -y)
 one-syllable verbs
rob
beg
drop		 robbing
begging
dropping		 robbed
begged
dropped		 Double the consonant and add -ed/-ing
two-syllable verbs
begin
commit
forget		 beginning
committing
forgetting		 began (irregular)
committed
forgot (irregular)		 Double the consonant and add -ing/-ed
  1. Verbs that end in a two consonant pattern
 list
start
demand		 listing
starting
demanding		 listed
started
demanded		 Add the -ing/-ed ending.

Exercises

  1. Write the following verbs with the ‘-ing’ form according to the chart above.  Learning the ‘-ing’ form of the verb is very important because it is used for continuous tense verbs, gerunds, and active participles, all of which are very common in English.
    1. twist:                              
    2. stare:                              
    3. miss:                              
    4. employ:                              
    5. lie:                              
    6. begin:                              
    7. forget:                              
    8. fight:                              
    9. hope:                              
    10. list:                              
    11. sip:                              
    12. send:                              
    13. buy:                              
    1. regret:                              
    2. insist:                              
    3. start:                              
    4. mandate:                              
    5. enjoy:                              
    6. die:                              
    7. excite:                              
    8. drop:                              
    9. carry:                              
    10. win:                              
    11. lend:                              
    12. care:                              
    13. tie:                              

     

    Answers show/hide
    1. twisting
    2. staring
    3. missing
    4. employing
    5. lying
    6. beginning
    7. forgetting
    8. fighting
    9. hoping
    10. listing
    11. sipping
    12. sending
    13. buying
    14. regretting
    15. insisting
    16. starting
    17. mandating
    18. enjoying
    19. dying
    20. exciting
    21. dropping
    22. carrying
    23. winning
    24. lending
    25. caring
    26. tying

     

  2. Underline the simple and continuous tense verbs in the following paragraphs.  Remember, there are past, present, and future tense verbs in the following paragraphs.In addition, there are words that look like simple and continuous verbs, but they are actually gerunds and infinitives, verbs used like nouns.  So, pay careful attention to the verb form.  Gerunds look like continuous tense verbs, but they are missing the verb ‘BE’.  (i.e.  Jorge enjoys walking) Infinitives look like simple tense verbs, but they have ‘to’ added in front of the verb (I want to walk around the building).Furthermore, there are sometimes adverbs which are added to the verbs, often between the verb ‘BE’ and the main verb.  So, be careful.  This can be a challenge.

    History of Technology for Listening to Music
    Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1878.  Before that, people could only listen to live music.  If you wanted to hear music, someone needed to play or to sing for you.  The only other way that you heard music was to play an instrument yourself, or to sing.  People sang while they were doing their work or while they were sitting around their house in the evening.  Of course, if there was a party, a group of musicians often performed music for the people at the party.

    Then, the phonograph changed everything.  People could listen to the phonograph while they were cleaning their house or maybe while they were doing some accounting at their kitchen table.  Eventually, inventors produced smaller and smaller devices that could play music.  Finally, in 1979, Masur Ibuka invented the Walkman, a cassette tape player that was so small that you could carry it with while you were travelling or exercising.

    Who knows what will happen next.  The music industry is always looking for ways to expand their music audience and save money.  Instead of paying a famous person to create music and sing on an album, the music industry can save money by creating their own music with a computer-generated voice.  In addition, Artificial Intelligence means that ordinary people are now creating their own music.  They are making their own music on a laptop and (are) substituting their own voice with the voice of a famous singer.  Musicians will need to be creative if they want to make money in the future.  But they themselves are using AI to create music, and they will still find a way to create a career in music.  But maybe we will go back to the past and begin playing and singing ourselves—we will be hearing our own voices again.

    Answers show/hide

    Note: Infinitives and gerunds are noted following the verb with {gerunds} and {infinitives}.

    Thomas Edison invented [simple] the phonograph in 1878.  Before that, people could only listen [simple] to live music.  If you wanted [simple] to hear {infinitive} music, someone needed [simple] to play {infinitive} or to sing {infinitive} for you.  The only other way that you heard [simple] music was [simple] to play {infinitive} an instrument yourself, or to sing {infinitive}.  People sang [simple] while they were doing [continuous] their work or while they were sitting [continuous] around their house in the evening.  Of course, if there was [simple] a party, a group of musicians often performed [simple] music for the people at the party.

    Then, the phonograph changed [simple] everything.  People could listen [simple with modal ‘could’] to the phonograph while they were cleaning [continuous] their house, or maybe while they were doing [continuous] some accounting {gerund} at their kitchen table.  Eventually, inventors produced [simple] smaller and smaller devices that could play [simple with modal ‘could’] music.  Finally, in 1979, Masur Ibuka invented [simple] the Walkman, a cassette tape player that was [simple] so small that you could carry [simple, with modal ‘could’] it with you while you were travelling or exercising [continuous].

    Who knows what will happen [simple] next.  The music industry is always looking [continuous, with frequency adverb ‘always’] for ways to expand {infinitive} their music audience and to save {infinitive} money.  Instead of paying {gerund} a famous person to create {infinitive} music and sing {infinitive} on an album, the music industry can save [simple] money by creating {gerund} their own music with a computer-generated voice.  In addition, Artificial Intelligence means [simple] that ordinary people are now creating [continuous] their own music.  They are making [continuous] their own music on a laptop and (are) substituting [continuous] their own voice with the voice of a famous singer.  Musicians will need [simple] to be {infinitive} creative if they want [simple] to make {infinitive} money in the future.  But they themselves are using AI to create music, and they will still find [simple] a way to create {infinitive} a career in music.  But maybe we will go [simple] back to the past and begin playing and singing [continuous] ourselves—we will be hearing [continuous] our own voices again.

     

  3. This exercise has two parts:
    • First, read each paragraph.  Then, choose an appropriate time word or phrase from the list below, and write that time word or phrase in the [blanks in square brackets] below.  These [blanks in square brackets] are for time words.  After you are done, check your work. The time words are written in exercise 4 below.
    • If you can, also write in the correct form of the verb in the numbered blanks.  If that is too difficult, you can first finish the time words and then go to exercise 4 below, which has the time words written in, and complete writing in the continuous tense verbs.

    Time Words:

    • between 1936 to 1942
    • by the end of the war
    • in the 1950’s and early 60’s
    • by the time you read this
    • between the late 60’s and early 70’s
    • soon after that
    • from 1998 to 2011
    • many decades later
    • in April
    • 2001
    • soon
    • while
    • while
    • while
    • now
    • someday
    • someday
    • someday

     

    1. The history of space travel actually started with weapons of war.  The first rocket was actually a German missile named the German V-2 rocket.  [                    ] German rocket scientists (1)                      (develop) and (2)                      (test) it.  Although it was a missile, it could actually travel into space.  Then, through the rest of the war, it (3)                      (terrorize) the rest of Europe.  At first, it wasn’t very accurate, but [                    ], it was (4)                      (hit) its targets almost 100% of the time.
    2. Although the V-2 rocket could fly into space, at that time, it (5)                      (be, not) used for space exploration.  The first nation to launch something into space was Russia.  [                    ], the Soviet Union (6)                      (send, already) satellites, dogs, and humans into space.  The first satellite was the Russian Sputnik, a simple metal ball with four antennae pointing backwards.  [                    ] it (7)                      (orbit) the earth, it sent a simple ‘beep’ that could be picked up by people on the earth.
    3. [                    ], the human race (8)                      (launch) rockets regularly into space.  [                    ], the Americans were busy.  They (9)                      (send) astronauts to the moon.  Then, the United States developed the space shuttle.  [                    ], many nations around the world (10)                      (cooperate) to build the international space station.  They (11)                      (add, continuously) modules to the ISS [                    ].  In 1995, the first humans were sent to live on the ISS.
    4. [                    ], astronauts from many different countries (12)                      (live) and (13)                      (work) on the ISS.  They (14)                      (study) the space environment.  The (15)                      (do) experiments and (16)                      work hard, but they (17)                      (have fun) while they (18)                      (live) there.  [                    ], the Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield traveled to the ISS.  [                    ] he (19)                      (live and work) there, he maintained an active social media presence.  [                    ] he was there, he had some plans.  He (20)                      (record) a music album about space while he was in space.
    5. [                    ], many nations and even individual visionaries (21)                      (try) to reach the next goal in space.  They know that [                    ] people (22)                      (live) on the moon.  [                    ], they (23)                      (travel) to and (24)                      (live) on Mars.  Maybe, [                    ], there will be people who (25)                      (live and work, already) on Mars.

     

    Answers show/hide
    1. Between 1936 to 1942
      by the end of the war
    2. In the 1950’s and early 60’s
      While
    3. Soon
      Between the late 60’s and early 70’s
      Soon after that
      While
    1. Many decades later
      In April 2001
      While
      While
    2. Now
      someday
      Someday
      by the time you read this

     

  4. See instructions on exercise 3.
    1. The history of space travel actually started with weapons of war.  The first rocket was actually a German missile named the German V-2 rocket.  Between 1936 to 1942, German rocket scientists                                  (develop) and (2)                                  (test) it.  Although it was a missile, it could actually travel into space.  Then, through the rest of the war, it (3)                                  (terrorize) the rest of Europe.  At first, it wasn’t very accurate, but by the end of the war, it was (4)                                  (hit) its targets almost 100% of the time.
    2. Although the V-2 rocket could fly into space, at that time, it (5)                                  (be, not) used for space exploration.  The first nation to launch something into space was Russia.  In the 1950’s and early 60’s, the Soviet Union (6)                                  (send, already) satellites, dogs, and humans into space.  The first satellite was the Russian Sputnik, a simple metal ball with four antennae pointing backwards.  While it (7)                                  (orbit) the earth, it sent a simple ‘beep’ that could be picked up by people on the earth.
    3. Soon, the human race (8)                                  (launch) rockets regularly into space.  Between the late 60’s and early 70’s, the Americans were busy.  They (9)                                  (send) astronauts to the moon.  Then, the United States developed the space shuttle.  Soon after that, many nations around the world (10)                                  (cooperate) to build the international space station.  They (11)                                  (add, continuously) modules to the ISS from 1998 to 2011.  In 1995, the first humans were sent to live on the ISS.
    4. Many decades later, astronauts from many different countries (12)                                  (live) and (13)                                  (work) on the ISS.  They (14)                                  (study) the space environment.  The (15)                                  (do) experiments and (16)                                  work hard, but they (17)                                  (have fun) while they (18)                                  (live) there.  In April 2001, the Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield traveled to the ISS.  While he (19)                                  (live and work) there, he maintained an active social media presence.  While he was there, he had some plans.  He (20)                                  (record) a music album about space while he was in space.
    5. Now, many nations and even individual visionaries (21)                                  (try) to reach the next goal in space.  They know that someday people (22)                                  (live) on the moon.  Someday, they (23)                                  (travel) to and (24)                                  (live) on Mars.  Maybe, by the time you read this, there will be people who (25)                                  (live and work, already) on Mars.

     

    Answers show/hide
    1. were developing
    2. testing
    3. was terrorizing
    4. was hitting
    5. was
    6. was already sending
    7. was orbiting
    8. was launching
    9. were sending
    10. were cooperating
    11. were continuously adding
    12. were living
    13. working
    14. were studying
    15. were doing
    16. working hard
    17. were having fun
    18. were living
    19. was living and working
    20. recorded
    21. are trying
    22. will live
      OR
      will be living
    23. will travel
      OR
      will be traveling
    24. living
      OR
      will be living
    25. already living and working

4.3 Writing the Negative Form of Continuous Tense Verbs

To write the negative form of continuous tense verbs, simply insert ‘not’ between the helping verb ‘BE’ and the main verb (‘-ing’ form).

Examples

She is washing her car.

She is not washing her car.

Adverbs go between the verb ‘BE’ and ‘not + the main verb’.

Example

She is clearly not studying very hard.

Exercise

Write the negative form of the verb in parenthesis in the blank below.

  1. Misaki                       (buy, not) a new car.
  2. Jorge                       (study, not) in the library.
  3. Tatiana and Zhara                       (work, not) on the weekend.
  4. In court, the witness said that Amandeep                       (driving, absolutely, not) too fast on the highway.
  5. Fumio                       (BE, not) careful when he broke his arm while skiing.
  6. They                       (get, not) married until next year.
  7. Malia                       (pay, not) attention when she made the mistake on her test.

 

Answers show/hide
  1. is not buying
  2. is not studying
  3. are not working
  4. was absolutely not driving
  5. was not being careful
  6. will not be getting OR are not going to get
  7. was not paying

4.4 Making Questions with Continuous Tense Verbs

To make Yes/No questions with the continuous verb tense, start by switching the subject and the correct form of the verb ‘BE’ of a regular sentence (the answer to the question).  This is followed by the ‘-ing’ form of the main verb.

Example

John is shopping at the mall.

Is John shopping at the mall?

To make information questions with continuous verb.  First, start with the question word, such as why, where, when, what, how, where, etc.  Then, repeat the same process as is used for information questions (question word + subject).

Example

John is shopping at the mall.

Where is John shopping at the mall?

Exercises

  1. Change the following answers into yes/no questions.
    1. We are going to John and Maria’s graduations.
                                                                                                      ?
    2. We will be studying for the test on Saturday.
                                                                                                      ?
    3. They will be going to the party on the weekend.
                                                                                                      ?
    4. He was eating at a restaurant every day.
                                                                                                      ?
    5. I am not going to the mall today.
                                                                                                      ?

     

    Answers show/hide
    1. Are we going to John and Maria’s graduations?
    2. Will we be studying for the test on Saturday?
    3. Will they be going to the party on the weekend?
    4. Was he eating at a restaurant every day?
    5. Are you not going to the mall today?

     

  2. Change the following answers into information questions.  First, write the correct continuous form of the verb in the blank to the left of the verb.  Be sure to use the correct form of the past, present or future form of the verb BE.  Then, change the sentence into an information question using the appropriate question word.
    1. Tonight’s dinner party                       (happen) on 72nd street in New York.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    2. Everyone                       (arrive) to the dinner party at 6:30 p.m.  tonight.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    3. Ajulo and Marta                       (plan) to come for dinner because they were sick.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    4. Hanh                       (bring) a great vegetarian dish for dinner.
      Question:                                                                 ?
    5. After the dinner, everyone                       (sitting) around and                       (watch) a movie.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    6. Everyone                       (go) home at midnight.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    7. Tomorrow, everyone                       (feel) tired.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?

     

    Answers show/hide
    1. will be happening
      Question: Where is tonight’s dinner party happening?
    2. will be arriving
      Question: When will everyone be arriving?
    3. are planning
      Question: Why aren’t Ajulo and Marta coming to dinner?
    4. is bringing
      Question: What is Hahn bringing for dinner?
    5. will be sitting OR is going to be sitting
      watching
      Question: What will everyone be doing after the dinner?
    6. is going
      Question: When will everyone be going home?
    7. will be feeling
      Question: How will everyone be feeling tomorrow?

5.0 Past Continuous and Future Continuous

The Past Continuous and Future Continuous Tenses are almost exactly the same as the Present Continuous Tense.  They use the same concepts of time, with the action happening for a limited vs.  an unlimited time and having clear time borders (the action starts, continues, and stops).  The action happens at a specific time (not a time in general), and time is always mentioned or can be implied from the context of the communication.  They are written in basically the same way as the Present Continuous Tense: Past Form = Past Verb BE + ‘-ing’ verb, Future Verb ‘BE’ + ‘be’ + ‘-ing’ form verb.

Example

I will be working tomorrow.

6.0 Writing Past, Present and Future Forms of the Continuous Tense

See table 1.23 to see a summary of how to write Continuous Tense forms.

Exercise: Writing the Past and Future Continuous Forms of the Continuous Verbs

In the boxes below, write the Past at Future Continuous forms of the Continuous Verbs.  Remember and/or review the spelling rules for writing ‘-ing’ forms of verbs, which were given at the beginning of this chapter.  They are for a limited time (not ongoing), have clear time borders (action starts, continues, and stops), happen at a specific time (not general time), and time is always mentioned or can be implied.  They also are written in the same form—‘BE’ + ‘-ing’ form verb (using the past and future forms of the verb ‘BE’.

Past Forms of Continuous Tense Verbs (was/were                      -ing)

Past Continuous

  1. resist:                              
  2. blare:                              
  3. kiss:                              
  4. apply:                              
  5. tie:                              
  6. resign:                              
  7. regret:                              
  1. light:                              
  2. cope:                              
  3. twist:                              
  4. flip:                              
  5. bend:                              
  6. tell:                              

Future Continuous

  1. beget:                              
  2. enlist:                              
  3. harm:                              
  4. recreate:                              
  5. employ:                              
  6. reply:                              
  7. recite:                              
  1. mop:                              
  2. marry:                              
  3. win:                              
  4. send:                              
  5. compare:                              
  6. try:                              
Answers show/hide

Past Continuous

  1. was resisting
  2. was blaring
  3. was kissing
  4. was applying
  5. was tying
  6. was resigning
  7. was regretting
  1. was lighting
  2. was coping
  3. was twisting
  4. was flipping
  5. was bending
  6. was telling

Future Continuous

  1. will be begetting
  2. will be enlisting
  3. will be harming
  4. will be recreating
  5. will be employing
  6. will be replying
  7. will be reciting
  1. will be mopping
  2. will be marrying
  3. will be winning
  4. will be sending
  5. will be comparing
  6. will be trying

6.1 Making Questions Using the Continuous Verb Tense

Making questions with the continuous verb tenses follows the pattern of the simple tense, except that instead of using ‘do’ as a helping verb for questions, the verb ‘BE’ is used instead.

Examples

Present

  • Yes/No Questions
    • Mei writes code for computer games.
    • Does Mei write code for computer games?  (simple tense)
    • Is Mei writing code for computer games?  (continuous tense)
  • Information Questions
    • Mei works from 7 a.m.  to 7 p.m.  every day.
    • When does Mei work?  (simple tense)
    • When is Mei working?  (continuous tense)

Past

  • Yes/No Questions
    • Mei wrote code for computer games.
    • Did Mei write code for computer games?  (simple tense)
    • Was Mei writing code for computer games?  (continuous tense)
  • Information Questions
    • Mei works from 7 a.m.  to 7 p.m.  every day.
    • When did Mei work?  (simple tense)
    • When was Mei working?  (continuous tense)

Future

  • Yes/No Questions
    • Mei will code for computer games.
    • Will Mei write code for computer games?  (simple tense)
    • Will Mei be writing code for computer games?  (continuous tense)
  • Information Questions
    • Mei works from 7 a.m.  to 7 p.m.  every day.
    • When will Mei work?  (simple tense)
    • When will Mei be working?  (continuous tense)

 

Exercise

Change the following sentences into questions using the continuous tense.  The sentences are in the simple tense.

Example:
This dog runs in the park.  (where)
Where is this dog running?

Present

  1. Mei works at 6:00 p.m.  (what time)
                                                    
  2. John cleans his room every day.  (how often)
                                                    
  3. Maxim calls us from work.  (from where)
                                                    
  4. Lourdes fix her car.  (why)
                                                    

Past

  1. I cleaned my apartment yesterday.  (what, do)
                                                    
  2. I cleaned my apartment yesterday.  (when)
                                                    

 

Answers show/hide

Present

  1. What time is Mei working?
  2. How often is John cleaning his room?
  3. From where is Maxim calling us from?
  4. Why is Lourdes fixing her car?

Past

  1. What were you doing yesterday?
  2. When were you cleaning your apartment?

7.0 Comparing Continuous and Simple Tense Verbs

Use the abbreviated chart below to remind yourself of the main differences between the Simple and Continuous Verb Tenses.  Then, do the exercises below the chart, which ask you to choose either the simple or continuous verb tenses.  If you forget the details of the differences between these two tenses or don’t fully understand them, review table 1.21 for the more complete chart.

Table 1.25 Time on Simple and Continuous Tense Abbreviated
Simple Tense Continuous Tense
General Time

Action happens sometime within a very large period of time, such as past, present or future OR a smaller period of time, like a year or ‘this morning’—but we don’t know exactly when it happens inside of that period of time.

Time is not given or mentioned except when given as a fact (like a history fact).  Facts have no time limits—they are always true.

 Specific Time

Action happens at an exact time or it ‘fills up’ a period of time.

Time of the Action is always given (in the simple present the time is always now).
Action has no clear time or clear start and stopping points

Like a pendulum.  There is no clear starting or ending time.  Time just keeps going.

Exact time is not clear.  Action could go on forever.

It is ‘fuzzy time’.  Time is not exact.

 Action has clear time and time limits

Like a sand clock—action starts, continues and then stops, but this is not repeated.

Action is limited to a certain exact time—like a ‘time jail’.

The time has clear borders.
Time is often not even mentioned

The time could be as small as ‘last year’ or ‘this morning’, but the action is only generally somewhere within that time.

If time is mentioned, it is actually a historic fact—facts had no time and are forever.  The emphasis is on the fact and not the action.

 Time is mentioned: Three time possibilities

The action is happening at an exact point in time (i.e. 7:00 p.m.).  It may start before the time and may or may not continue after—but the time it happens in is limited and is usually a somewhat short period of time.  So, we use numbers and time words.  4:00, this morning, noon, 1973, September, one week ago.

In the Continuous Present, time may not be measured, but we know it is happening now.

The action fills up all of the exact time.

Action is mostly continuous through this time—it doesn’t start, stop and then possibly start again later.

Exercises

  1. Fill in the blanks below with the correct simple past and past continuous tense of the verb in (parenthesis).Earthquake!I (1)                                  (work) at the office yesterday, when suddenly, the earth (2)                                  (begin) to shake.  It (3)                                  (be) an earthquake, and it (4)                                  (be) severe.  Everyone instantly (5)                                  (panic) and some people (6)                                  (start) to yell, “Get down!” Everyone (7)                                  (scramble) to climb under their desks, and they (8)                                  (cover) their heads.  Many books began to fall, and soon everything (9)                                  (fall) off of the shelves.  Computers (10)                                  (slide) all over the tops of the desks, and some (11)                                  (fall, even) onto the floor.  The shaking seemed to last forever, but finally it (12)                                  (stop).  Everyone (13)                                  (be) in a state of shock, but they (14)                                  (start) to climb from under their desks.  The boss (15)                                  (start) to go around and he (16)                                  (ask) if anyone was hurt.  Luckily, everyone was okay, but it (17)                                  (take) about 30 minutes for people to start cleaning [gerund].  But soon, everyone (18)                                  (clean up, busily), but they (19)                                  (talk, constantly) about what had just happened.
    Answers show/hide
    1. was working
    2. began
    3. was
    4. was
    5. panicked
    6. started
    7. was scrambling
    8. were covering
    9. was falling
    10. were sliding
    11. were even falling
    12. stopped
    13. was
    14. started
    15. started
    16. was asking
    17. took
    18. was busily cleaning up
    19. were constantly talking

     

  2. Fill in the blanks below with the correct simple future and future continuous tense of the verb in (parenthesis).My Dream Job of the FutureI can just imagine working [gerund] at my dream job in the future.  I (1)                                  (sit) at a huge desk, with a powerful graphics-capable computer sitting on it.  I (2)                                  (work) as an advertising specialist [gerund in compound noun] in a massive advertising agency [gerund in compound noun].  But first, I (3)                                  (quit) my job working [active participle] as a Barista at StarStruck Coffee.  It was a great job, and it helped to pay for my university degree, but it was just a stepping stone [gerund in compound noun] to my future career.  All day, I (4)                                  (field) calls from advertising executives from brand name companies such as ‘Know Jeans’, ‘Lectra Motors’ and ‘Peer Card-Ins’ clothing.  I (5)                                  (make) appointments with marketing representatives and (6)                                  (work) with them to create impressive and attention getting videos and online ads.  The company I (7)                                  (work) for (8)                                  (pay) me massive amounts of money, and I (9)                                  (spend) it on luxury items like expensive cars and luxurious condos in prime locations around the world.  For now, I am currently working at my summer job to help pay those bills while I am attending a local college, but someday, I (10)                                  (get) my real job—working [present participle] in advertising.
    Answers show/hide
    1. will be sitting
    2. will be working
    3. will quit
    4. will be ‘fielding’
    5. will be making
    6. working
    7. will work
    8. will be paying
    9. will be spending
    10. will get

     

  3. Decide whether the verbs in (parenthesis) should be in the Simple Tense or the Continuous Tense.  Then write the correct form of that verb in the blank to the left of the verb.Jouji and his sister, Junko, (1)                                  (be) twins, but they are very different from each other.  Jouji (2)                                  (have) a quiet personality, while Junko is friendly and sometimes loud.  While they (3)                                  (grow up) they did many things together and made up many stories about their stuffed animal toys.  Sometimes they made videos about their funny stories.But now, they (4)                                  (be) older and they are finished high school.  They both moved from Tokyo last year and now they (5)                                  (study, both) in North America.  Junko (6)                                  (study) filmmaking at the Praett Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and Jouji (7)                                  (study) dentistry at the University of Montreal.

    Their aunt, Kumiko, (8)                                  (live) in Vancouver, Canada, so last year Jouji and Junko (9)                                  (study) English in Vancouver so that they could approve their English test score.  Last year was difficult for Junko because New York (10)                                  (be) very different from Tokyo, and when she (11)                                  (take) the train to Brooklyn, she sometimes (12)                                  (feel) a little afraid.  Sometimes the train (13)                                  (come) late, which (14)                                  (happen, never) in Tokyo.  But this year, Junko (15)                                  (enjoy, really) her studies in filmmaking.

    While [time, not contrast] some of her instructors (16)                                  (teach) at the Praett Institute, they (17)                                  (work, also) on movies, so students often help their instructors while they are making movies.  But this week, Junko (18)                                  (plan) her own short movie.  Every day, she (19)                                  (have) a lot of work to do.  She (20)                                  (do, must) a lot of reading, and she (21)                                  (watch, must) at least part of a movie every day to learn the techniques (how to) of film-making.  When she (22)                                  (have) time, Junko (23)                                  (go) to Starlucky’s to have coffee with Yuan, her friend from Beijing.  They (24)                                  (laugh, always) and (25)                                  (encourage) each other in their studies.

    Jouji (26)                                  (be) a quiet person, and he (27)                                  (study) a lot.  He (28)                                   (get, always) very high grades in his classes.  Last year, he was studying biology and chemistry.  This semester, he (29)                                  (take) physiology [the study of the human body] and basic dentistry methods.  He (30)                                  (spend) a lot of time in the library, but when he (31)                                  (have) free time, he (32)                                  (enjoy) going to downtown Montreal.

    About half of the people in Montreal (33)                                  (speak) French and the other half (34)                                  (speak) English.  Jouji (35)                                  (feel, often) like he (36)                                  (live) in two countries at the same time.  These days, he (37)                                  (meet) with a friend who (38)                                  (teach) him a bit of French.  This year, Jouji (39)                                  (live) in an apartment with a friend and they (40)                                  (shop) for food every week.  Sometimes the person who is at the check-out counter (41)                                  (speak, not) any English, so Jouji tries to use his limited French.  He (42)                                  (practice) French whenever he (43)                                  (need) a break from studying physiology, so Jouji (44)                                  (learn, slowly) French.

    Every week Jouji and Junko (45)                                  (talk) to their mother and father by Skype.  Living away from home is sometimes difficult, but they (46)                                  (try) not to feel homesick while they (47)                                  (study) in North America.  But any time that they are homesick, there are a lot of Japanese restaurants in both Montreal and Brooklyn to help them feel a little more comfortable.  Also, every semester, they (48)                                  (fly) to see each other.  One semester, Jouji (49)                                  (go) to Brooklyn, NY, and the next semester, Junko (50)                                  (go) to Montreal.  They enjoy their time and they are able to see many new and interesting places.

    Answers show/hide
    1. are
    2. has
    3. were growing up
    4. are
    5. are both studying
    6. is studying
    7. is studying
    8. lives
    9. studied
      OR
      were studying
    10. was
      OR
      is
    11. takes
    12. felt
    13. came
    14. never happens
      OR
      never happened
    15. is really enjoying
    16. are teaching
    17. are also working
    18. is planning
    19. has
    20. must do
    21. must watch
    22. has
    23. goes
    24. always laugh
    25. encourage
    26. is
    27. studies
    28. always gets
    29. is taking
    30. is spending
    31. has
    32. enjoys
    33. speak
    34. speak
    35. often feels
    36. is living
    37. is meeting
    38. is teaching
    39. is living
    40. are shopping
    41. does not speak
    42. practices
    43. needs
    44. is slowly learning
    45. talk
    46. try
      OR
      are trying
    47. are studying
    48. fly
    49. goes
    50. goes

     

  4. Use the appropriate past, present or future forms of the following continuous or simple forms of the verbs.  First decide if the verbs should be past, present or future.  Then decide whether the verbs should be simple or continuous and write the past, present or future forms of these verbs.Mei’s New JobLast year, Mei (1)                                  (get) job as a software engineer for a video game production company, after she (2)                                  (study) software engineering at a University that was well-known for its software engineering program.  This job (3)                                  (be) Mei’s dream job.  Every day, she (4)                                  (be) able to work on video games.  It is a very creative job.

    Last week, she (5)                                  (propose) a new game to her supervisor.  Her supervisor loved it and on Monday, her supervisor (6)                                  (tell) her that she could start working on it.  So, Mei is very happy, and all this week she (7)                                  (work, busily) on her new project.  On Monday, she immediately (8)                                  (start) to work on the design of the video game.  All day on Tuesday, she (9)                                  (work) on a schedule for completing the project.  Then yesterday, she spent the whole day dreaming about the characters for her video game.

    This project (10)                                  (demand) a lot of time and energy from Mei.  For the next six months, she (11)                                  (work) 24/7 on this project [24 hours a day, 7 days a week].  When it is finished, other programmers on her team (12)                                  (need) to check to make sure everything is working correctly.  They (13)                                  (check) and (14)                                  (recheck) every little part of the game.  Then, they (15)                                  (recruit) professional game players to test the game.  The professional players (16)                                  (play) the game again and again and then they (17)                                  (make) suggestions for improvement.  While this (18)                                  (happen), May (19)                                  (worry, always) that something in the game will not work.  But that is just part of this job.  It can be stressful, but it is also fun and creative.

    Answers show/hide
    1. got
    2. studied
    3. was
    4. is
    5. proposed
    6. told
    7. is busily working
    8. started
    9. worked
    10. demands
    11. is working
    12. need
    13. check
    14. recheck
    15. recruit
    16. play
    17. make
    18. is happening
    19. is always worrying
      OR
      always worries

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