Past Progressive
1. Use of the Past Progressive
1.1. actions were in progress at a special time in the past
Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.
1.2. two actions were happening at the same time (the actions do not influence each other)
Anne was writing a letter while Steve was reading the New York Times.
1.3. together with Simple Past
While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.
1.4. repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)
Andrew was always coming late.
2. Signal words
while
3. Form
to be (was, were) + infinitive + -ing
4. Examples
4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Past Progressive
Long forms | Contracted forms |
---|---|
I was playing football. | not possible |
You were playing football. | |
He was playing football. |
4.2. Negative sentences in the Past Progressive
Long forms | Contracted forms |
---|---|
I was not playing football. | I wasn't playing football. |
You were not playing football. | You weren't playing football. |
He was not playing football. | He wasn't playing football. |
4.3. Questions in the Past Progressive
Long forms | Contracted forms |
---|---|
Was I playing football? | not possible |
Were you playing football? | |
Was he playing football? |