Saturday 13 October 2018

Future Continuous Tense: Dialogues

ContentsGrammar in Dialogues → Future Continuous Tense: Dialogues 

Read and understand the following explanations on the usage of the Future Continuous Tense (Future Progressive) and then examine illustrative examples from the works of literature.

Thursday 30 August 2018

Past Continuous Tense: Dialogues

ContentsGrammar in Dialogues → Past Continuous Tense: Dialogues

Read and understand the following explanations on usage of the Past Continuous Tense (Past Progressive) and then examine illustrative examples from the works of literature.

The Past Continuous Using: Explanations

I. The Past Continuous expresses an action which was going on at a given moment in the past. As a rule, there is no indication on a given past moment, it is implied in the situation. Sometimes it is indicated by stating the precise time or with the help of another action in the Past Indefinite. See dialogues 1, 2.

II. The Past Continuous expresses an action which was going on at a given period of time in the past. The indication of the past period of time is understood from the context or given in the sentence. See dialogues 3, 4.

Thursday 17 May 2018

Dialogues Using Present Continuous Tense

ContentsGrammar in Dialogues → Dialogues Using Present Continuous Tense

Read and understand the following explanations on usage of the Present Continuous Tense and then examine illustrative examples from the works of literature.

The Present Continuous Using: Explanations 

Generally: The present tense regularly expresses something occurring now, in the present. Where continuing action is emphasized, the present continuous (present progressive) is used: The system is working very well. She is sleeping quietly now. For grammar details, see "The Continuous Forms" page.

 I. The Present Continuous expresses an action which is going on at the moment of speaking (see dialogues 1, 2).

 ►Note 1. Stative verbs denoting physical perceptions, emotions, wish, mental processes, etc are not used in the Present Continuous. The Present Indefinite is used instead (see dialogue 3).

 II. The Present Continuous expresses an action going on at the present period of time (dialogues 4, 5).

 III. The Present Continuous may express an action in progress which is simultaneous with some other action or state denoted by the verb in the Present Indefinite. The action in the Present Indefinite is recurrent action that always taken place against the background of the action in the Present Continuous. The use of the Present Continuous makes such sentence emotionally coloured. (See dialogues 6, 7.)