Perfect Progressive Aspect (grammar lesson)


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Perfect Progressive Aspect - Glossary of Terms

Perfect Progressive Aspect

Any verb (in the past, present or future) in the perfect progressive tense is said to be in the "perfect progressive aspect". With the exception of verbs in the present perfect progressive tense, such verbs are used to mark the end of an on-going action. In the present, this aspect is used for verbs that began in the past and continue into the present.

Examples:

In the past: I had been studying / they had been dithering
(the past perfect progressive tense)

In the present: she has been taking / Tony and Anne have been cleaning
(the present perfect progressive tense)

In the future: I will have been driving / you will have been writing
(the future perfect progressive tense)

See also:

Glossary of grammatical terms