Final answer:
The present progressive tense is created by using the present tense of the verb 'to be' and adding '-ing' to the base form of the main verb, with specific rules for spelling changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The present progressive is a verb tense used to denote an action that is currently in progress. It is formed by using a form of the verb 'to be' in the present tense, followed by a present participle. The present participle is the verb form that ends in -ing. For instance, the verb 'play' becomes 'playing', and 'cry' becomes 'crying'. There are special spelling rules when forming the present participle:
For verbs ending in e, the e is dropped before adding -ing (e.g., 'slide' > 'sliding').If a verb ends in ie, the ie is changed to y before adding -ing (e.g., 'die' > 'dying').For verbs whose last syllable is consonant-vowel-consonant and stressed, the last consonant is doubled before adding -ing (e.g., 'beg' > 'begging'), except when the last syllable is not stressed (e.g., 'enter' > 'entering').
Understanding how to form the present progressive is crucial in maintaining verb tense consistency and accurately indicating actions currently taking place.