Past Progressive Tense
The past progressive is used to indicate two actions occurring in the past with one action being interrupted by the second action. The interruption can be either an action or a time.
The past progressive can also be used to indicate two actions occurring at the same time.
Note: Simple Past vs Past Progressive
When an action is interrupted in the simple past, by time, we are informed when the action began or finished.
When an action is interrupted in the past progressive by time, we are only aware of the time of interruption.
Form. was/were + bare infinitive + “ing”
The following word is often used in this tense: while.
Positive Statement
Subject | Auxiliary Verb (was / were) | Main Verb (bare infinitive + "ing" | Object | where | when | how | why |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | was | playing | video games | when Carlos called. | |||
You | were | playing | video games | when Carlos called on Saturday. | |||
Harry | was | playing | video games | when Carlos called on Saturday. | |||
We | were | playing | video games | on Saturday. | |||
The boys | were | playing | video games | on Saturday. |
Question
"W" Question Word | Auxiliary Verb | Subject | Main Verb | Object | where | when | how | why |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Will Am | I I | be sleeping going to be sleeping | when it starts to rain? when it starts to rain? | |||||
Will Are | you you | be sleeping going to be sleeping | when it starts to rain? when it starts to rain? | |||||
Why Why | will is | Jackie Jackie | be sleeping going to be sleeping | when it starts to rain? when it starts to rain? | ||||
Will Are | we we | be sleeping going to be sleeping | when it starts to rain? when it starts to rain? | |||||
Where Where | will are | they they | be sleeping going to be sleeping | when it starts to rain? when it starts to rain? |
Negative Statement
Subject | Auxiliary Verb (was / were) | "not" + Main Verb (bare infinitive + "ing") | Object | where | when | how | why |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | was | not playing | music | yesterday. | |||
You | were | not playing | music | at home | yesterday. | ||
Lucy | was | not playing | music | at home | yesterday. | ||
Jackie and I | were | not playing | music | yesterday. | |||
Julie and Jackie | were | not studying | music | yesterday. |