Chapter LVII: The Progressive Conjugation

=228.= We have learned to conjugate verbs both declaratively and interrogatively, in both the active and the passive voice. There is another form of conjugation, as shown in the statements, _I am laughing_, _I was laughing_, _I shall be laughing_, _I have been laughing_, etc.

We use this form of conjugation when we wish to call attention to the _continuance_ of the action asserted by the verb, and we call it the =progressive conjugation=.

=229.= Just as we use the past participle in conjugating a verb in the passive voice, so we use the =present participle= in conjugating a verb in the progressive form. _Laughing_ is the present participle of the verb _laugh_. The present participle of every verb ends in _ing_; as, _running_, _hoping_, _tying_.

=230.= Synopsis of the progressive conjugation of the verb _see_:—

NOTE.—In the =synopsis= of a conjugation we give only one form
for each tense, instead of six forms.

INDICATIVE MODE

_Present_ I am seeing
_Past_ I was seeing
_Future_ I shall be seeing
_Present Perfect_ I have been seeing
_Past Perfect_ I had been seeing
_Future Perfect_ I shall have been seeing

SUBJUNCTIVE MODE

_Present_ I be seeing
_Past_ I were seeing
_Present Perfect_ I have been seeing
_Past Perfect_ I had been seeing

IMPERATIVE MODE

be seeing (you, thou, ye)

=231.= The progressive conjugation may be made interrogative by changing the position of the auxiliary; as, _am I seeing?_ _was I seeing?_ etc.

=Summary.=—The =progressive conjugation= is used to denote a continued action.

It is made by joining the present participle of a given verb to the conjugation of the verb _be_.

=Exercise.=—Conjugate the verbs _lift_, _dine_, and _get_ in the progressive form, both declaratively and interrogatively.