Verbs

Verbs Unit 2 Part 7

Verbs in the present progressive tense have two parts: the present form of to be (am, is, and are) plus the -ing form of the main verb.

Present progressive tense
(Exampleverb to play)

I am playing we are playing
You are playing you are playing
He is playing
She is playingthey are playing
It is playing

Compare the present tense with the present progressive tense below.

(1) Larry works at the bookstore.
(2) Larry is working at the bookstore.

.Sentence (1) is in the present tense. What word tells you this? Works
. Sentence (2) is also in the present tense. What word tells you this? Is
. Note that themain verb in sentence (2), working, has no tense. Only the helping verb is shows tense.


Practice 1 Change each one-word present tense verb in the left-hand column to a two- partpresent progressive verb in the right-hand column. Do this by filling in the missing helping verb (am, is, or are).

Present tense presentprogressive tense

I fly. I_________ flying.
He wears my sweater. He________ wearing mysweater.
You write rapidly. You________ writing rapidly.
Irma and I shop downtown. Irma and I _________ shopping downtown.
A waiteradds up the bill. A waiter________ adding up the bill.
Our work begins to pay off. Our work_______ beginning to pay off.
We pose for thephotographer. We_____ posing for the photographer.
Don plays hockey. Don_______ playing hockey.
Joan prepares for the holiday....