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Myriora English › Grammar and punctuation › Chapter 3: Tenses

-ing tenses

Ages 7–9Chapter 3 · Lesson 3

In this lesson

Your turn

Which word fits? We blank watching TV when the lights went out.

Show the answer

Were! It was going on in the past, and we means more than one, so we use were.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people leave out the helping verb, and write I walking. But you need am, is, are, was or were as well. I am walking.

Try it at home

Freeze-frame: one person mimes an action, the other says what they are doing (You are brushing your teeth). Then, after they stop, say what they were doing.

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! Some tenses show that something is still going on. They use a verb ending in I, N, G. These are called progressive tenses.

The present progressive is happening right now. I am walking. She is reading. They are playing. Use am, is or are, plus the I, N, G verb.

The past progressive was going on in the past. I was walking home when it started to rain. They were playing when the bell rang. Use was or were, plus the I, N, G verb.

Let's try one together. Which word fits? Shh, the baby blank sleeping. Say it out loud!

Is! The baby is sleeping right now. One baby, happening now, so we use is. Well done if you said is!

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people leave out the helping verb, and write I walking. But you need am, is, are, was or were as well. I am walking.

Your turn! Which word fits? We blank watching TV when the lights went out. Pick the right card. You've got eight seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! Were! It was going on in the past, and we means more than one, so we use were.

Quick review. Progressive tenses show something going on. Present: am, is or are, plus the I, N, G verb. Past: was or were, plus the I, N, G verb. Don't leave out the helping verb! See you next time!