Past Continuous

Past Progressive - Diagram

We use the Past Progressive when we talk about something which was happening around a period of time in the past








We use the Past Progressive (green) together with the Simple Past (pink). The Past Progressive is used for the action in the past which was in progress when a new action (Simple Past) happened.

Two actions which were in progress in the past do not influence each other

Past Progressive - Use

1) actions were in progress at special time in the past

Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.

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.

4) repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew was always coming in late.

Past Progressive - Signal words

while

Past Progressive - Form

to be (was, were) + infinitive + -ing

Past Progressive - Examples

Affirmative sentences:

I was playing football.

You were playing football.

Negative sentences:

I was not playing football. I was't playing football.

You were not playing football. You weren't playing football.

Questions:

Was I playing football?

Were you playing football?