English as an Additional Language/Progressives

The progressive in English describes actions that were ongoing at one point in time. It can also be called the continuous.

Past Progressives
The past progressive describes an action that was ongoing in the past but is no longer going on. The past progressive can be used to describe an action that was ongoing before it was interrupted.

E.g. Sally was eating pasta before the guests arrived.

It can also be used to describe two actions that were going on simultaneously.

E.g. While he was cooking dinner, I was in bed sleeping.

The past perfect progressive describes an action that started and was continuously going on until one point in the past. E.g. I had been fighting with my brother for the entire morning.

Present Progressive
The present progressive describes an action that is still being actively done. Unlike in other languages, the simple present cannot be substituted for the present progressive as the simple present only describes general facts.

The present progressive can be used to describe an action that is currently ongoing.

E.g. They are exercising right now.

It can also be used to describe a planned future action.

E.g. She is catching a train tomorrow.