PAST PROGRESSIVE

Present progressive is different with past progressive. Past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.

Form
S + was/were + Ving ( + )
S + was/were + not + Ving ( - )
Was/were + S + Ving

Example :

I was speaking.
I was not speaking.
Was I speaking?

You were speaking.
You were not speaking.
Were you speaking?

Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example

• final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed) come – coming
• (but: agree – agreeing)
• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting
• l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling
• final ie becomes y lie – lying

Use of Past Progressive

• puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past
Example: He was playing football in the yard.
• two actions happening at the same time (in the past)
Example: While she was preparing breakfast, he was washing the car.
• action going on at a certain time in the past
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

Signal Words of Past Progressive

• when, while, as long as