The progressive tense of verbs used in describing action that is on-going, also called continuous tense verbs (the -ing words). This tense of verbs also serve as verbal nouns called gerunds. Some examples of gerunds are:
Note that the progressive tense verbs are also used as adjectives.
The past progressive tense of be is was/were being.I/He/She/It was beingWe/You/They were being
I/he/she/it was sleeping. You/we/they were sleeping.
The past perfect progressive tense of the verb "try" is "had been trying."
The future progressive tense of "examine" is "will be examining."
Present progressive tense:I am writing.You/we/they are writing.He/she/it is writing.Past progressive tense:I/he/she/it was writing.You/we/they were writing.Future progressive tense:Will be writing.
The past progressive tense of be is was/were being.I/He/She/It was beingWe/You/They were being
The progressive tense has the form - be + present participle.eg is/was watching.The tense of the be verb determines the tense of the progressive verb form.eg was watching is past progressive. is watching is present progressive.With an auxiliary verb have or has the present perfect progressive is formed.eg have been watching, has been watchingWith had the past perfect progressive is formed:eg had been watching
It is the present progressive tense of the verb 'to focus.'
The term "was sitting" is a verb in the past progressive tense.
I/he/she/it was sleeping. You/we/they were sleeping.
The past perfect progressive tense of the verb "try" is "had been trying."
was/were sleeping = Past Continuous Tense
The future progressive tense of "examine" is "will be examining."
The past progressive tense of the verb "awake" is:I/He/She/It was awaking.You/We/They were awaking.
Present progressive tense:I am writing.You/we/they are writing.He/she/it is writing.Past progressive tense:I/he/she/it was writing.You/we/they were writing.Future progressive tense:Will be writing.
Standing is not past tense. It is the present participle of the verb "stand". Present participles require the use of auxiliary verbs to show tense. Examples: was/were standing (past progressive) am/is/are standing (present progressive) will be standing (future progressive) Stood is the past tense of stand.
I/you/we/they have been investigating. He/she/it has been investigating.