San Jose City College

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   Modal Verb Phrases Showing Progressive Aspect

The progressive forms of modals can show continuing action in present, past, and future time frames for any verb that can be used in the progressive. Progressive modal verb phrases must be edited for the correct form of MODAL + BE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE or MODAL + HAVE BEEN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE (-ing). Note the forms in the table below.

TENSE VERB MEANING PROGRESSIVE MODAL
future visit intention WILL BE VISITING
present study logical deduction MUST BE STUDYING
past work advisability (action didn't occur) SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING
future come possibility MIGHT BE COMING
present / future arrive expectation SHOULD BE ARRIVING
future perfect sit future (completed action / state) WILL HAVE BEEN SITTING
past think past impossibility COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THINKING
past want negative intention WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED

  SELECT THE CORRECT MODAL VERB PHRASE FOR EACH SENTENCE BELOW. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FORM OF THE CORRECT VERB PHRASE. A FEW CHOICES HAVE INCORRECT VERB FORM.

1. The passengers have been flying for hours. They are glad they the plane soon.
2. They are flying to Australia. In another hour they for 13 hours.
3. As they got off the plane, they looked stiff and bleary-eyed. They after such a long flight.
4. They to see Australia very badly to have put up with such a long flight.
5. Some passengers to break up the trip into shorter segments.
6. In just two days, some tourists in the Great Barrier Reef.
7. George to New Zealand, but he wanted to see the indigenous art and culture of the Red Center in the outback.
8. By the time George and his wife leave Australia, they koala bears and kangaroos for the first time.
9. George and his wife have already left the tour group. They for a romantic getaway on the southern island of Tasmania.
10. George and his wife still haven't returned to the tour group. They a great time in Tasmania. They to stay there.

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