Continuous Tense

The continuous tense for verbs shows that the action occurs continuously (without stopping). Verbs in the continuous tense can also show that the action occurs in the past tense, present tense, or future tense.

The past continuous tense shows that the action was occurring in the past. (Ex: “They have been laughing”) The present continuous tense shows the the action is currently occurring and ongoing. (Ex: “They are laughing”) The future continous tense shows that the action will be occurring continuously in the future. (Ex: “They will be laughing”)

Continuous Tense

A verb can be put in the continuous tense by AvP + கொண்டு + இரு7

The past, present, or future continuous tense can be formed by putting இரு7 into the past, present, or future tense, respectively.

Ex:

  • அந்த இரண்டு பாட்டிமார்களும் அரட்டை அடித்துக்கொண்டிருப்பார்கள் = “Those two grandmothers will be gossiping”
  • காகங்கள் காலையில் கரைந்துக்கொண்டிருக்கும் = “Crows will be crowing in the morning”
  • பெரிய வீதிகளில் வண்டிகள் போய்க்கொண்டிருக்கின்றன = “Vehicles are going in big streets”
  • அவர்கள் சிரித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தார்கள் = “They were laughing”