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Pen chalk 926 Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

Past Progressive Verbs

For years, I’ve been trying to understand why using ing past progressive verbs instead of ed endings sound so wrong to me. I’ve search the Internet and research English usage books, but can’t find the answer. Is it wrong or weak, or is it just me? I think both may be correct, but is one is better, and under what conditions?

Below, I’ve copied a couple of sentences—yes, I know they are run-ons—can you please explain if the verb usage is wrong, why, and how can I recognize it? After them, I’ve written a revision. Are they correct? Better? Worse?


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Curtie screamed in pain as he tried to reel Ray into the car, his grip sending a wave of agony through his infected arm.

He tightened his grip as the car raced into the tunnel, the grinding of the car against the aging track magnified by the enclosed structure, reverberating off the cold stone walls, and bouncing back against the car, assaulting his ears as he struggled to see the exit at the end of the tunnel growing larger and brighter.


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Curtie screamed in pain as he tried to reel Ray into the car. His grip sent a wave of agony through his arm.

He tightened his grip as the car raced into the tunnel. The grinding of the car against the aging track, magnified by the enclosed structure, reverberated off the cold stone walls and bounced back against the car. The screech of steel on steel assaulted his ears as he watched the exit at the end of the tunnel grow larger and brighter.

  

Top answer

First of all, let's correct your use of terminology. The -ing forms are participles. They are the first words of their respective participle clauses.

— CalifJim

  • First of all, let's correct your use of terminology.
  • The -ing forms are participles.
  • They are the first words of their respective participle clauses.
  • ) To be a past progressive tense, the -ing verb must be preceded by an auxiliary verb, either 'was' or 'were'.
  • Example: His grip sent a wave of agony through his arm.
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1 Answers
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First of all, let's correct your use of terminology. The -ing forms are participles. They are the first words of their respective participle clauses. (A participle clause is one type of non-finite clause.) To be a past progressive tense, the -ing verb must be preceded by an auxiliary verb, either 'was' or 'were'.

Example:

His grip sent a wave of agony through his arm.

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