–The man was killing the boy.
Is this not simple past progressive?
A member(not here) tells me that, it is only completed action that one can add ‘simple’. In other words if the action is under way you cannot say it is simple like the above(simple past progressive) but he said the above should be (past progressive) how true is this?
Ebe, as far as I know there is nothing like simple past progressive. It is either present progressive or past progressive. And the action here cannot be deemed to have been complete at all. Your question is just in the ‘Past Progressive’.
Thanks T_H.
But if ‘simple’ is added to any parts like (simple present) does it means the action is a completed one?
No; I do not think so. It will mean completed in “Past Simple”
Bye, Ebe. Good Night!
Your friend doesn’t seem to understand what is meant by ‘simple’ when used with a tense.
It refers to a tense that is formed without an auxiliary.
Hence, Simple Present Tense, but not [color=brown]Simple Present Progressive or [color=brown]Simple Past Progressive; and not [color=brown]Simple Present Perfect, or [color=brown]Simple Past Perfect.[b]
‘Be’ verbs are also auxiliary (helping verbs) which is usually used in (simple present tense).
So I don’t seem to comprehend you!
Perhaps examples might bring edification.
I’m not sure I’d agree with all of what you stated, Bazza. Basically, when people refer to a “simple tense”, that means primarily that it is not a progressive/continuous form of the verb. For example:
If we used your guideline (i.e. a simple tense is “a tense that is formed without an auxiliary”), then interrogative and negative forms of the present simple and past simple would no longer be “simple” tenses.
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[size=75]“They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds.” ~ Winston Churchill[/size]