Subject + was/ were + ing
| Examples: | I was walking | They were running |
|
| You were killing | He/ she/ it was crying* | ||
| We were eating |
Past progressive is used for:
1. Explaining two or more actions that happened at the same time.
- Sorry I couldn’t answer the phone. I was making dinner when you called.
2. Remembering how someone typically acted.
- Yeah, I remember little Timmy; that kid was always coming in late to class.
Subject + had + past participle
| Examples: | I had walked | They had run |
|
| You had killed | He/ she/ it had cried* | ||
| We had eaten | *Note: if the verb ends in -y, change the -y to an -i and add -ed. |
Use past perfect for explaining an action or event that happened before the main action you’re talking about.
- Jack traded his cow for beans at the market, but his mother was angry because she had told him to sell it!
- I walked into the kitchen for a snack, but my wife had already eaten the bananas.
Subject + have/ has + been + ing
| Examples: | I have been walking | They have been running | |
| You have been killing | He/ she/ it has been waiting | ||
| We have been eating |
Use present perfect continuous for things that have been occurring recently, especially when you want to mention how long it has been going on.
- I have been studying (for many hours).
- My tummy has been bothering me (since I skipped dinner to finish writing this grammar point).
Note: adding ‘for’ or ‘since’ to present perfect or present perfect progressive sentences can give them the same function. For example:
- My wife has wanted to leave me for years
is the same as
- My wife has been wanting to leave me for years.
Present perfect vs present perfect continuous
Present perfect just says something has happened in the past. “I have hit my brother” indicates that it happened, but when isn’t important and it probably wasn’t recently.
Present perfect continuous implies the action happened recently and repeatedly. “I have been hitting my brother” suggests you were doing it recently and over a period of time. Maybe you were attacking your poor brother when I called you on the phone.
Subject + am/ is/ are + ing
| Examples: | I am walking | They are running | |
| You are killing | He/ she/ it is waiting | ||
| We are eating |
Use present continuous for:
1. Actions happening now.
- You are reading this.
2. Activities you have been doing and will keep doing temporarily, even if not this moment.
- I am looking for another job; writing about grammar isn’t doing it for me.
