Avoiding Progressive Tense in Writing The progressive tenses contain ing somewhere in the verb. That’s how you will know it’s a progressive tense verb. The progressive tenses are present progressive, past progressive, and future progressive. MOST of the progressive tenses can be formed in both the active and passive voices. The exception is the future progressive tense. There is no passive voice of the future progressive tense.

Avoiding Progressive Tense in Writing Progressive tenses add a sense of urgency/immediacy to their sentences, so use them appropriately. This tense should be used RARELY. In fact, in essays and portfolios for my class, you must avoid progressive tense entirely.

Forming Progressive Tense All progressive tenses use the present participle part of the verb. That’s the ing form of the verb. VerbPresent Participle Jumpjumping eateating writewriting drinkdrinking

Present Progressive Tense, Active Voice Present progressive tense, active voice uses am, is or are before the present participle. Am/is/are + present participle I am listening to you. Madeleine is reading the book. I am jumping over the puddle. They are jumping over the puddle.

Present Progressive Tense, Passive Voice Present progressive tense, passive voice is a little different. It uses the present participle of being and the PAST participle of the main verb. Am/is/are + being + past participle I am being treated well. The book is being placed on the shelf. The football is being caught by the receiver. Those books are being read every year. The flowers are being put in a vase.

Past Progressive Tense, Active Voice Past progressive tense, active voice uses was or were before the present participle. Was/were + present participle I was jumping over the puddle. The students were reading the book. The quarterback was catching the ball when he was tackled.

Past Progressive Tense, Passive Voice Past progressive tense, passive voice uses was or were plus the present participle of being and the past participle. Was/were + being + past participle The book was being placed on the shelf. The football was being caught when the quarterback was tackled. Those books were being read every year. The flowers were being put in a vase.

Future Progressive Tense, Active Voice Future progressive tense, active voice is formed by simply adding will be before the present participle. Will be + present participle I will be jumping over the puddle. Henry will be reading the book next month. The quarterback will be retiring at the end of the season.

Future Progressive, Passive Voice Doesn’t exist! Woohoo!

How to Avoid using Progressive To avoid using progressive tense, use a corresponding simple tense (present, past, or future) instead. For example, instead of using present progressive tense, use present tense. We are going to the movies each week. We go to the movies each week.

How to Avoid using Progressive Instead of using past progressive tense, use past tense. She was eating at the restaurant. She ate at the restaurant. Instead of future progressive tense, use future tense. Sammy will be reading in Mass. Sammy will read in Mass.