Progressive aspect combines with present and past tense and perfective aspect to form the following verbal constructions:
present progressive: I am working.
past progressive: I was working.
present perfect progressive: I have been working.
past perfect progressive I had been working.
These combinations also occur with modal and auxiliary verbs, e.g.:
I can be working
I was going to be working.
I will be working.
I will have been working.
I would be working.
I would have been working.
...etc.
In traditional terms will + be + participle is referred to as the future progressive and will + have + been + -ing participle as the future perfect progressive.
The meaning of progressive aspect cat be generally described as indicating the temporary or incomplete nature of an activity. The following pairs of sentences illustrate some of the main contrasts between progressive and simple aspect:
temporary vs. unlimited or permanent activity
He is playing the piano (i.e. right now)
He plays the piano (i.e. he is able to do so)
temporary vs. permanent condition
He is living in Dortmund (i.e. temporarily)
He lives in Dortmund (i.e. his permanent address)
temporary vs. unlimited or permanent habit:
He is fixing his own breakfast these days.
He fixes his own breakfast (i.e. as a rule)
amused or negative vs. neutral attitude toward characteristic behavior:
He's always calling me "Dear" (i.e. and I don't like it)
He always calls me "Dear" (neutral)
incomplete vs. complete activity, event or process:
I was reading Lord Jim last night (i.e. but didn't finish it)
I read Lord Jim last night (i.e. I finished the book)