Present and Past Progressive (現在進行形と過去進行形)
Welcome! In this chapter, we are going to explore how to describe actions that are happening right now, or were happening at a specific moment in the past. Think of these forms like taking a video recording of an action in motion. Let's make this simple and easy to master together!
Note: For regular habits or general facts in the present and past, remember to review the chapter "Present and past forms".
---1. What Is the Progressive Form? (進行形とは？)
Imagine looking out of a window. What do you see? Someone is walking a dog, cars are moving, and birds are singing. These actions are not finished; they are in progress right in front of your eyes!
In English, we call this the progressive form. It gives the feeling of being right in the middle of doing something.
Every progressive sentence uses this simple equation:
Subject + be-verb + [verb-ing]
Quick Memory Tip: Think of the be-verb and the -ing ending as best friends. They always travel as a pair! If you leave out the be-verb, or forget the -ing, the sentence feels incomplete.
---2. The Present Progressive (現在進行形)
What does it mean?
The present progressive shows an action that is going on right now (at this very moment).
Basic Pattern
Subject + am / is / are + [verb-ing]
Choose the correct be-verb based on your subject:
• I + am: I am playing soccer now. (私は今、サッカーをしています。)
• He / She / It / Singluar noun + is: Ken is reading a book. (ケンは本を読んでいます。)
• You / We / They / Plural noun + are: They are eating lunch. (彼らは昼食を食べています。)
Negative Sentences (否定文)
To say someone is not doing something right now, simply put not after the be-verb!
Subject + am / is / are + not + [verb-ing]
• I am not watching TV now. (私は今、テレビを見ていません。)
• She is not sleeping. (彼女は眠っていません。)
• We are not playing video games. (私たちはゲームをしていません。)
Questions and Short Answers (疑問文と答え方)
Because progressive sentences use be-verbs, you form questions just like normal be-verb sentences: move the be-verb to the very front!
Am / Is / Are + subject + [verb-ing] ...?
• Question: Are you studying English? (あなたは英語を勉強していますか？)
• Answer: Yes, I am. / No, I am not.
• Question: Is he cooking dinner? (彼は夕食を作っていますか？)
• Answer: Yes, he is. / No, he is not (isn't).
Asking with Question Words (What, Where, etc.)
You can also ask what someone is doing by starting with a question word like What:
• What are you doing now? (あなたは今、何をしていますか？)
• I am writing an email. (私はEメールを書いています。)
Key Takeaway for Present Progressive:
Present progressive = am / is / are + verb-ing. It describes what is happening right at this moment.
3. The Past Progressive (過去進行形)
What does it mean?
What if you want to say you were right in the middle of doing something at a specific time in the past? That is when we use the past progressive.
Instead of "doing right now," it means "was/were doing at that time."
Basic Pattern
To change present progressive to past progressive, you only need to change one thing: change the be-verb into its past form (was or were)! The -ing part stays completely the same.
Subject + was / were + [verb-ing]
• I / He / She / It + was: I was cleaning my room at ten yesterday. (私は昨日の10時、部屋を掃除していました。)
• You / We / They + were: They were playing basketball then. (彼らはそのとき、バスケットボールをしていました。)
Helpful Time Words often used with past progressive:
• then (そのとき)
• at that time (そのとき)
• at seven yesterday (昨日の7時に)
Negative Sentences (否定文)
Put not right after was or were:
Subject + was / were + not + [verb-ing]
• He was not listening to music then. (彼はそのとき音楽を聴いていませんでした。)
• We were not running in the gym. (私たちは体育館で走っていませんでした。)
Questions and Short Answers (疑問文と答え方)
Move Was or Were to the front of the sentence:
Was / Were + subject + [verb-ing] ...?
• Question: Were you using the computer then? (あなたはそのときコンピュータを使っていましたか？)
• Answer: Yes, I was. / No, I was not (wasn't).
• Question: What was Emi doing at five yesterday? (エミは昨日の5時に何をしていましたか？)
• Answer: She was walking her dog. (彼女は犬を散歩させていました。)
Key Takeaway for Past Progressive:
Past progressive = was / were + verb-ing. It shows an action that was going on at a certain moment in the past.
4. How to Make the [verb-ing] Form (現在分詞のつくり方)
Adding -ing to verbs is easy once you know these four simple spelling patterns:
1. Most verbs: Just add -ing
• play → playing
• read → reading
• talk → talking
• study → studying (Keep the y and add -ing!)
2. Verbs ending in a silent -e: Drop the -e, then add -ing
• make → making (Drop the e)
• write → writing (Drop the e)
• use → using (Drop the e)
• come → coming (Drop the e)
3. Short verbs ending in one vowel + one consonant: Double the last consonant, then add -ing
• run → running (Double the n)
• swim → swimming (Double the m)
• sit → sitting (Double the t)
• stop → stopping (Double the p)
4. Verbs ending in -ie: Change -ie to -y, then add -ing
• die → dying
• lie → lying
5. Present Simple vs. Present Progressive
Students often wonder: "When do I use the simple present, and when do I use the progressive?" Let's look at the difference:
• Present Simple: Used for daily habits, routines, or general facts.
I play tennis every Sunday. (私は毎週日曜日にテニスをします。 → Routine/Habit)
• Present Progressive: Used for an action taking place right now.
I am playing tennis now. (私は今、テニスをしています。 → Happening right now)
Did you know? Some verbs describe a state of being rather than an action, such as have (having something in your possession) or know. We usually use them in the simple form, not progressive: I have a dog (not: I am having a dog).
---6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Here are the three most common slip-ups and how to fix them:
Mistake 1: Leaving out the be-verb
• Incorrect: I playing tennis now.
• Correct: I am playing tennis now.
Remember: Always keep the be-verb and -ing together!
Mistake 2: Using both a base verb and a be-verb without -ing
• Incorrect: She is play tennis now.
• Correct: She is playing tennis now.
Mistake 3: Mixing up present and past be-verbs
• Incorrect: I am studying at seven yesterday.
• Correct: I was studying at seven yesterday.
Look for clues like "yesterday" or "then" to use was/were!
7. Chapter Quick Review
Let's do a fast recap before you practice speaking and writing:
• Present Progressive Formula: am / is / are + verb-ing (action happening now)
• Past Progressive Formula: was / were + verb-ing (action happening at a past moment)
• Negatives: Put not after the be-verb (is not playing, were not running)
• Questions: Put the be-verb at the beginning (Are you listening? / Were they sleeping?)
Great job! You now have the tools to describe dynamic, moving scenes in both the present and the past with confidence.