English Grammar Drills

130 Verb Phrases
3. Progressive verbs always contains the helping verb be in some form followed by a verb in
the present participle form.
The chart is misleading in one aspect: it looks like the three categories of simple, perfect,
and progressive are mutually exclusive (in the same way that the three times—present, past, and
future—are indeed mutually exclusive). However, it is not only possible, but common for a verb
construction to be both perfect and progressive at the same time. For example, the following
sentence is a present perfect progressive.
My family has been living in California for some time now.
Here are some examples of the three rules applied to sentences. All verb constructions are in
italics.
Example 1:
My mother has called me a dozen times today.
According to Rule 1, the first verb have is a present tense, so we know that the entire construction
is present tense.
The verb have is a helping verb following by called. Is called a past tense or a past participle?
We know from Rule 1 that only the first verb can be a present or past-tense form. Since called is
not the first verb, it cannot be a past-tense form. Therefore, called is a past participle. Rule 2 tells
us that the helping verb have (in any tense form) followed by a verb in the past participle form
must constitute a perfect tense.
We can conclude that has called must be a present perfect construction.
Example 2:
I will be working from home all this week.
Will is a modal followed by be, a second verb in the base form; therefore will be is future time.
According to Rule 1, this means the entire construction is future tense.
Be is a helping verb followed by working, a verb in the present participle form, meaning that,
according to Rule 3, be working is a progressive. Therefore will be working is a future progressive.
Note that be plays two roles at the same time: will be future time; be working progressive
category.
Example 3:
The kids had been watching cartoons all afternoon.
The first verb in the construction, had, is a past tense. Therefore, according to Rule 1, the entire
verb construction is a past time.
Had as a helping verb is followed by the past participle form been. Therefore, according to
Rule 2, had been indicates a perfect verb.