Question

Is the underlined verb or verb phrase in the simple, progressive, perfect, or progressive perfect aspect? The tigers had been lying in wait all morning.

Answer 1

"The tigers had been lying in wait all morning."

The correct answer is perfect progressive tense.

Perfect progressive tense describes actions that took place in the past, and is still happening in the present, and/or will continue happening.

Progressive tense is an action that takes place in the past OR present Or future.

• The tigers lied down in wait this morning. (past)
• The tigers are lying down this morning. (present)
• The tigers will lie down.  (future)

Perfect tense that started in the past and continues now.

• I have learned a lot this semester. (present perfect)
• I had learned a lot in elementary school. (past perfect)
• I will have learned a lot when I finish college. (future perfect)