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English grammar

Chapter 60: LVII. THE PROGRESSIVE CONJUGATION
By Lillian Kimball Stewart
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A practical, classroom-oriented guide that presents the principles of modern English usage through clear definitions, progressive lessons, and abundant exercises. It begins with sentences, subjects, and predicates, then treats parts of speech — nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections — followed by phrases, clauses, sentence analysis, verb tense, mode and voice, agreement, and punctuation. Each topic is arranged pedagogically to build from simple to complex constructions, with drills and illustrative sentences to promote correct spoken and written habits and to develop students' ability to analyze and apply grammatical forms.

LVII. THE PROGRESSIVE CONJUGATION

228. We have learned to conjugate verbs both declaratively and interrogatively, in both the active and the passive voice. There is another form of conjugation, as shown in the statements, I am laughing, I was laughing, I shall be laughing, I have been laughing, etc.

We use this form of conjugation when we wish to call attention to the continuance of the action asserted by the verb, and we call it the progressive conjugation.

229. Just as we use the past participle in conjugating a verb in the passive voice, so we use the present participle in conjugating a verb in the progressive form. Laughing is the present participle of the verb laugh. The present participle of every verb ends in ing; as, running, hoping, tying.

230. Synopsis of the progressive conjugation of the verb see:—

Note.—In the synopsis of a conjugation we give only one form for each tense, instead of six forms.

INDICATIVE MODE

Present I am seeing
Past I was seeing
Future I shall be seeing
Present Perfect I have been seeing
Past Perfect I had been seeing
Future Perfect I shall have been seeing

SUBJUNCTIVE MODE

Present I be seeing
Past I were seeing
Present Perfect I have been seeing
Past Perfect I had been seeing

IMPERATIVE MODE

be seeing (you, thou, ye)

231. The progressive conjugation may be made interrogative by changing the position of the auxiliary; as, am I seeing? was I seeing? etc.

Summary.—The progressive conjugation is used to denote a continued action.

It is made by joining the present participle of a given verb to the conjugation of the verb be.

Exercise.—Conjugate the verbs lift, dine, and get in the progressive form, both declaratively and interrogatively.