Conjugation & verb forms of the present conditional continuous

Table of contents – present conditional progressive

On this page you will find the following:

1. Formation of the present conditional continuous
2. Verb forms of the present conditional continuous
3. Further explanations and exercises

Formation of the present conditional continuous

The present conditional continuous is formed by combining the auxiliary verbs ‘would’ + ‘be’ with the progressive form (ing-form) of the respective main verb. Although it is generally used in the if-clause type 2, it may also appear in other contexts. Compare the following examples for clarification:

• Example sentences of forming the present conditional continuous:
  • “He wouldn’t be talking so much now, but you asked him.”
    • Here, it is used in a negative clause that represents an unreal possibility.
  • “I would be lying on the beach now if I didn’t have to work.”
    • In this sentence, it appears as part of the if-clause type 2 (second conditional).

Verb forms of the present conditional continuous

Example verb: ‘to drink’

Positive/affirmative sentences

Negative sentences

* This form is not as common as the other one.

Further explanations related to the ‘Formation of the present conditional continuous’

The following explanations are related to the topic ‘Conjugation & verb forms of the present conditional progressive/continuous’ and may also be interesting:

• Formation of the present conditional simple
• Modal verbs in English
• Use of the third conditional sentence (if-clause type 3)
• Exercise 1: second conditional sentence (if-clause type 2)