The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002

5.8. The progressive aspect
Unit five. Time, tense and aspect

Sections 132-139

The progressive aspect refers to activity in progress and therefore suggests that the activity is of limited duration and that it need not be complete. The verbs which typically take the progressive are verbs denoting activities or processes. With verbs denoting momentary events the progressive suggests repetition.

State verbs often cannot be used with the progressive at all and include verbs of perceiving, verbs referring to a state of mind or feeling, and verbs referring to a relationship or a state of being.

Verbs referring to an internal sensation can be used with either the progressive or the simple form with little difference of effect. Some state verbs can also refer to an active form of behaviour and be used with the progressive.

Task one **

Use the most appropriate simple or progressive form (present, past or perfect) of the verb in brackets.

1. We (have) ... dinner last night when Alice (burst in) ... to tell us about her latest conquest.

2. I (search) ... for the missing documents all day ... and look: I (only find) ... this draft contract.

3. (you still consider) ... sacking your secretary or (you want) ... to give her a second chance?

4. When I (come in) ... a few minutes ago the two little boys (punch) ... each other in the face.

5. More and more people (get) ... tired of the way the government (handle) ... the country’s economic problems these days.

6. How (you normally react) ... when someone (call) ... you an incompetent teacher?

7. What (you whisper) ... into Amanda’s ear when I (see) ... you in that dark alley the other day?

8. A: (you finish) ... those two book reviews yet?

B: No, I (work) ... on various other things lately.

9. Why (you complain) ... about the food all the time? You (eat) ... five big meals today.

10. After conquering Mount Everest the mountaineers (fast run) ... out of oxygen but fortunately a helicopter (come) ... to their rescue.

11. We (send) ... an urgent message but (still wait) ... for a response.

12. The prison population (rise) ... by more than 2,000 in the five months since Mr Blunkett (take over) ... at the Home Office after three years during which it (stabilise) ... at around 66,000. (The Guardian, 15 November 2001, p. 12)

Task two **

Rewrite the following text, replacing the underlined parts by one of the state verbs listed below and making any other changes which are necessary.

Not many people are acquainted with the name of William Campbell, but I still have a vivid memory of reading his biography. The book is divided into five chapters, in the first of which there are a lot of anecdotes about William’s early years at Moorcock Manor. This had been in the possession of the Campbell family for centuries.

William was really fond of life in the open and at the age of 18 had the appearance of a young country squire. However, as a result of some very risky investments, his father one day was in debt to the local bank for a huge amount of money. After the sale of vast tracts of land, little was left of the original estate.

It was clear to William that his future was now dependent on his own resourcefulness. Fortunately, he was like the very first Campbell in many ways: he had faith in himself and was never without the resolve to do what the situation made necessary.

Task three **

Complete the following sentences, using both the simple and the progressive form of each of the verbs listed below at least once. Also pay attention to tense.

1. We ... rumours about a possible coup for quite some time now.

2. A: It’s hard to say what this cake ... like.

B: Well, I would say it ... like cardboard.

3. Karen hadn’t been in the job long and (still) ... her way.

4. I ... no reason why you ... such a nuisance again!

5. The dog ... the lamppost and when I bent down I ... a half-eaten hamburger, which really ... awful.

6. The chef ... the sauce when I entered the kitchen.

7. I ... you ... no longer interested in buying a second home.

8. Stop it, Billy, you ... very unpleasant to me. I really ... like throwing you out.

9. Carol and David ... a lot of each other lately.

10. When he slipped into the pantry Andy ... a piercing scream, followed by a thud. Seconds later he ... a droplet of sweat trickling down his neck.