Continuous Tense Examples

There are three continuous tenses used in English and each continuous tense describes ongoing actions in the present, past, and future. Learning continuous tense examples can help you differentiate their difference easily. On thing is common in continue tenses is that the actions are ongoing and you can use state-of-being verbs in them. only action verbs show what is, was, or will be going on..

In this article, you will learn what are continuous tenses examples

Continuous Tense Examples

In all continuous tenses (present, past, future), we use the present participle, which is a verb ending with ing. 

For example:

• working
• sleeping
• running
• doing 

These are present participle forms of the verb, which are formed by adding -ing at the end of the base verb.

Present Continuous Tense Examples

In a present continuous tense, we use auxiliary verbs is/are/am with the present participle. 

Formula

Subject + is/are/am + Present Participle.

Example

• He is working on his assignment.
• They are applying for the job. 
• We are heading towards our destination.
• You are doing good.
• She is cooking food. 
• It is working well. 
• Am I going for shopping?
• Am I staying at home. 
• Are they winning the match?
• We are going pass the test.

Past Continuous Tense Examples

Past continuous tense describes actions that were happening in the past and continued in the past. We use the helping verbs was or were with the present participle to make sentences of past continuous tense.

Formula

Subject + was/were + Present Participle

Examples

• He was working. 
• She was cooking.
• It was working.
• They were playing.
• You were studying.
• I was finishing.
• We were completing. 
• Was he working?
• Was she cooking?
• Was it working?

Future Continuous Tense Examples

The future continuous tense refers to things or actions that will happen in the future and will continue in the future. We use will/shall be with the present participle in a future continuous tense. 

Formula

Subject + will/shall be+ Present Participle

Examples

• He will be working.
• She will be cooking.
• It will be working.
• They will be playing.
• You will be studying.
• I will be finishing.
• We will be completing it.
• Will he be working?
• Will she be cooking?
• Will it be working?

Continuous tense in English are divided in to three sub tenses: present continuous, past continuous, and future continue.  continue tensees are used to show ongoing actions whether it is in the present, was in the past, or will be in the future.

Present continuous is used to describe action that is ongoing in the present. Past conintinous describe actions that were continue in the past but not in the present. and Future continue tense is used to tell the actions that will continue in the future. in case of future continue tense, one thing keep in mind that the action that suppose to start and conitnie in the future may or may not happen. 

Continuous Tense Examples FAQs

What is present Continuous tense?

Present continuous tense refers to actions that are happening right now, and the actions are continuous.

What is past continuous tense?

Past continuous tense explains things or actions that were happening in the past and continued in the past.

What is future continuous tense?

Future continuous tense describes actions that will occur in the future and will continue in the future for some time.

I hope this article helped you understand continuous tenses with examples.

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