Mastering Continuous Tense: Tips for GCSE and A-Level

What Is the Continuous Tense?

The continuous tense, also known as the progressive tense, describes actions that are ongoing or in progress. It is commonly used in English to indicate actions happening now, actions that were happening in the past, or actions that will be happening in the future.

Continuous tenses are formed using the verb "to be" and the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. For example:

• Present Continuous: "I am studying."
• Past Continuous: "I was studying."
• Future Continuous: "I will be studying."

Types of Continuous Tenses

1. Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is used to describe actions happening right now or temporary actions. For example:

• "She is reading a book." (Action happening now)
• "I am working on a project this week." (Temporary action)

It is formed using am/is/are + verb (-ing).

Exam Tip: In GCSE English exams, questions may ask you to identify or correct errors in tense usage in a text. Ensure you check for correct verb forms and usage.

2. Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense describes actions that were ongoing at a specific point in the past. For example:

• "I was cooking when the phone rang."
• "They were playing football at 3 PM yesterday."

It is formed using was/were + verb (-ing).

Exam Tip: In creative writing tasks for GCSE and A-Level English, the past continuous can add depth to narratives by describing simultaneous events.

3. Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense describes actions that will be ongoing at a specific point in the future. For example:

• "I will be travelling to London tomorrow."
• "They will be working on the project next week."

It is formed using will be + verb (-ing).

Exam Tip: In A-Level English Language exams, understanding future continuous tense may be helpful for analysing texts with predictions or plans.

How to Use Continuous Tenses Correctly

Common Mistakes

Here are some frequent errors students make:

• Using the wrong auxiliary verb (e.g., "They is playing" instead of "They are playing").
• Forgetting to add the -ing ending to the main verb (e.g., "She was read" instead of "She was reading").
• Confusing continuous tense with simple tense (e.g., "I study" vs. "I am studying").

Practice Tip: Create sentences using all three types of continuous tenses to solidify your understanding.

Comparison of Continuous Tenses

Tense	Auxiliary Verb	Main Verb (-ing)	Example
Present Continuous	am/is/are	verb + -ing	"She is eating."
Past Continuous	was/were	verb + -ing	"She was eating."
Future Continuous	will be	verb + -ing	"She will be eating."

Practice Exercises

Test your knowledge of continuous tenses with these exercises:

1. Complete the sentence: "I _______ (read) a book right now."
2. Identify the error: "They is playing football at the moment."
3. Rewrite the sentence in the past continuous tense: "She is cooking dinner."
4. Fill in the blank: "Next year, I _______ (study) at university."

Answers:

1. "I am reading a book right now."
2. "They are playing football at the moment."
3. "She was cooking dinner."
4. "Next year, I will be studying at university."

Exam Technique Tips

• Read the question carefully: Look for clues indicating the tense required.
• Check subject-verb agreement: Ensure the auxiliary verb matches the subject (singular/plural).
• Proofread: Always re-read your answers to catch errors with auxiliary verbs or -ing endings.

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