progressive

Everyday

1. Progressive means happening or developing step by step over time. tree →
2. Progressive ideas or people support new ideas and changes in society, especially to make things fairer. tree →
3. (grammar) The progressive form of a verb shows an action going on, like "I am running" or "she was singing". tree →
4. (health) A progressive illness gets gradually worse. tree →
5. (money) A progressive tax takes a bigger share from people who earn more. tree →

In the lessons

In grammar lessons pupils learn the present progressive (also called continuous): am/is/are + -ing. In history and citizenship, progressive reformers fought for votes for women and an end to child labour. In medicine and family life, a grandparent may have a progressive illness. Phrases: "present progressive", "progressive ideas", "a progressive school", "progressive illness".

Examples

• "I am eating" is in the present progressive. tree →
• The music got progressively louder. tree →
• She is very progressive and supports new ideas. tree →
• My grandma has a progressive illness that makes her more forgetful each year. tree →
• The school has a progressive approach to learning outside. tree →
• (money) In a progressive tax system, people who earn more pay a bigger share. tree →
• Progressive reformers helped end child labour in factories. tree →

Note

In grammar, "progressive" and "continuous" mean the same thing. In politics it is the opposite of "conservative" (keeping things as they are), but neither word is simply good or bad. Adverb: progressively ("progressively harder" = harder at each step). In maths, "progressive" changes follow a pattern, like a sequence that grows by 3 each time.