Past Progressive/Continuous - Use
- Past Progressive/Continuous
- Summary
- Use
- Signal words
- Form of affirmative, negative sentences and questions
- Spelling
- Special verbs
- Diagram
- Long forms and short forms
- Exercises - Past Progressive
Past Progressive/Continuous - Use
The Past Progressive is used when we talk about something which was happening at a special time in the past. It is also called Past Continuous. Have a look at the following examples:
1) action was in progress at special time in the past
Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.
She was listening to the radio.
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.
3) together with the Simple Past
While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.
Note:
Past Progressive: were sitting at the table
Simple Past: the telephone rang.
The action in the Simple Past interrupted the action in the Past Progressive.
4) repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)
Andrew was always coming in late. (I don't like it.)
Simple Past:
Andrew always came late. (Here I don't give a comment.)
