Key learning points

1. Both the simple tense and progressive tense can denote present, past or future action.
2. The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
3. The simple tense is a tense that does not use an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb except in the future.
4. The progressive tense always makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to be' paired with the main verb.
5. The progressive tense denotes ongoing action.

Keywords

• Auxiliary verb - the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb

• Infinitive - any verb preceded by the word 'to'

• Progressive tense - a tense that denotes ongoing action

• Ongoing - continuous or still happening

• Simple tense - a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb in the present and past

Common misconception