Past Progressive Tense Notes

                PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE NOTES                     

The Past Progressive Tense indicates continuing action, something that was happening, going on, at some point in the past. This tense is formed with the helping "to be" verb, in the past tense, and with the verb with -ing ending.

  

Example: 

•  I was cooking with my mother yesterday.
•  He was watching television last night.

The past progressive indicates a limited duration of time and is thus a convenient way to indicate that something took place while something else was happening:

Example:

•  He talk to his friend while teacher was teaching.
•  They were eating when their friends showed up.

The past progressive tense also used on repeating action in the past.

Example:

• They were always making fun of him.
• You were always complaining.

Example:

              Singular                                                            Plural

• I was eating.                                                  We were eating.
• You were eating.                                            You were eating.
• he/she/it was eating.                                      They were eating.

             Singular                                                             Plural

• I was doing.                                                    We were doing.
• You were doing.                                              You were doing.
• he/she/it was doing.                                        They were doing.