We see some words that act in different forms of tenses. We can use the regular verb “continue’’ in all the forms of all three tenses. Let us explore the fact.
We can apply the word “continue’’ in all the forms of three tenses. It provides us with the meanings of preserve, sustains, move, drive, maintain, and so on. We can apply the verb that is used in the present participle and past participle forms to frame all the forms of the sentences.
Now, we are going to get a discussion on these facts related to the usage of “continue” in different tenses along with relevant examples.
“Continue’’ in the present tense.
Any sentence that expresses the idea of being, having or doing is regarded as present tense. Let us get to know how “continue” is used in the present tense.
We can use the verb “continue’’ to show an action that is in a continuous process at present time. We can show the action that is holding down on in a general sense.
When to use “continue’’ in the present tense?
We are certainly able to insert the verb “continue” in the present tense when we find any situation to show any work in its ongoing situation. We must use “continues” after the subject of the third person and singular number.
Sentence formation and structure with “continue’’ in the present tense-
| Forms of present tense | Sentence formation and structure in the present tense with “continue’’ |
| 1. Present indefinite tense | a. Subject of the first person singular/plural number, second person singular/plural number, third person plural number+ complete + object + rest of the sentence b. Subject of the third-person singular number + completes + object + rest of the sentence |
| 2. Present continuous tense | a. Subject of the first person singular number, third person singular number+ is continuing(present participle form) + object + rest of the sentence b. The subject of the first person plural number, second person singular/plural number, and the third person plural number+ are continuing + object + rest of the sentence |
| 3. Present perfect tense | a. Subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural number+ have continued(past participle form) + object + rest of the sentence b. The subject of the third person singular number + has continued + object + rest of the sentence |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural number+ have been continuing + object + rest of the sentence b. The subject of the third person singular number + has been continuing + object + rest of the sentence |
Examples and explanations with “continue’’ in the present tense-
| Forms of present tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Present indefinite tense | Rakesh continues his habit of walking in the morning daily. | Here we find that a boy named Rakesh keeps up his walking in the morning daily. |
| 2. Present continuous tense | Arnab is continuing the work in the office at this point of time when everybody leaves the office. | The regular verb in its present participle form “continuing’’ is in the usage to refer to Arnab’s work in the office even after everybody goes home. |
| 3. Present perfect tense | The teacher has continued to check the papers because he has a lot of work to do. | Here the verb “continued’’ is used in its past participle form to make a sentence in the present perfect tense. It indicates that the teacher’s work of checking the papers has been done. |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense | Sumana has been continuing the stitching of a shirt for half an hour. | The present participle form of the verb “continuing’’ is applied to frame a present perfect continuous tense that shows the girl’s stitching of a shirt is in progress for half an hour. |
“Continue’’ in the past tense.
We recognize the action as past tense that was done in the past without its result at present. Let us have a look at how “continue’’ performs in the past tense.
We insert the verb “continued’’ in the past tense to provide an action that shows the sustenance of action in the past. We can express the preservation of action that has no result at present.
When can we use “continue’’ in the past tense?
We can use the verb “continued’’ in the past tense when we need to express actions that went in the past. We have to use was/were continuing, had continued, and had been continuing in order to frame sentences in the various forms of past tense.
Sentence formation and structure of “continue’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Sentence formation of “continue’’ |
| 1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | a. The subject of all persons and numbers + continued (past form)+ object + reset of the sentence |
| 2. Past continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or third person singular number + was continuing + object + rest of the sentence b. The subject of the first person plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural number + were continuing + object + rest of the sentence |
| 3. Past perfect tense | a. The subject of all persons and numbers + had continued (past participle form)+ object + rest of the sentence |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | a. The subject of all persons and numbers + had been continuing (present participle form) + object + rest of the sentence |
Examples and explanations on the usage of “continue’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Past indefinite tense | Raktim continued reading in the vernacular school. | Here the past form of the verb “continued’’ is used to frame a simple past tense and we come to know a complete act of the past. We do not find its result now. |
| 2. Past continuous tense | They were continuing to serve the poor. | Here the present participle form “continuing’’ is used along with were to construct a sentence in the past progressive tense. We see that they were carrying on their service to the poor. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | Hari had continued speaking English with his brother before his father came home. | The past participle form “continued’’ is used here to form a past perfect tense. It shows that Hari had kept on speaking English with his brother before his father came home. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense | Karabi had been continuing her task of learning French for a year. | Here the verb “continuing’’ in its present participle form along with had been is applied to frame an example of past perfect continuous tense. We find that Karabi had been carrying on her task of learning a language for a period of time. |
“Continue’’ in the future tense.
Like other tenses, the future tense has also four forms that give us actions of the future. Now we will know how the verb “continue’’ is applied in the future tense.
We apply the regular verb “continue’’ in the future tense to show the action that will hold down in the future.
When can we use “continue’’ in the future tense?
We use the verb “continue’ in the future tense when we need to present an action that will be in a continuous process situation. We must use shall/will, shall/will have to represent the actions.
Sentence formation and structure applying the verb “continue’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | How to form a sentence with the verb “continue’’ |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/ plural number+ shall continue (present form) + object + remain part b. The subject of the second person singular number/plural number, third person singular number/plural number + will continue + object + remaining part |
| 2. Future continuous tense | a. Subject of the first person singular number/ plural number + shall be continuing + object + remaining part b. The subject of the second person singular number/plural number, third person singular number/plural number+ will be continuing + object + rest of the sentence |
| 3. Future perfect tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/ plural number + shall have continued + object + remaining part b. The subject having second person singular number/plural number, third person singular number/plural number + will have continued + object + remaining part |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/ plural number + shall have been completing ( present participle form)+ object + remaining part b. The subject of the second person singular number/plural number, third person singular number/plural number+ will have been continuing + object + rest |
Examples and explanations of “continue” in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | Will you continue learning English? | It is seen that the base form “continue’’ is used along with will to frame a future indefinite tense in the form of an interrogative sentence. |
| 2. Future continuous tense | The teachers will be continuing to give us assignments. | We have to use “continuing’’ along with will be to mention an action without stoppage. Here we see the teachers will be going to give us assignments. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | The boy will have continued playing cards with his friends. | Here the past participle form “continued’’ is applied along with will have to frame a sentence in the future perfect continuous tense. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | The players will have been continuing playing football for two hours in the playground. | In this present example the present participle form “continuing’’ is used along with the helping verb will have been to indicate a work to keep doing without stopping. We find that the players will have been playing on the ground for a period of time in the future. |
Conclusion
The article shows the usage of “continue’’ in the formation of sentences in various tense forms along with examples. We can make sentences with this regular verb whenever necessary. The phrase “to be continued’’ is framed.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
