Form of Past Progressive
• P: He was speaking.
• N: He was not speaking.
• Q: Was he speaking?
Use of Past Progressive
Past Progressive is used for actions in the past and focusses on the course or duration of the action.
• Action taking place at a certain moment in the past
Being in the middle of doing something at a certain time in the past. Examples:
At two o’clock, Carla was preparing the contract. Yesterday I was looking for Mister Miller’s phone number.
• Actions happening simultaneously Actions in the past happening at the same time (over a longer period of time).
Examples: While Claire was preparing her presentation, Tom was showing the customer around. While Sarah was looking for the documents, I was keeping the customer on the line.
• Being in the middle of an action, when another action set in Action taking place over a longer period of time in the past when (suddenly) another (shorter) action set in. Beispiele:
I was sitting in a meeting, when my mobile suddenly rang. When I came in, John was playing solitaire.
Signal Words of Past Progressive
when, while, as long as
The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.
Form
Positive Negative Question I / he / she / it I was speaking. I was not speaking. Was I speaking?
you / we / they
You were speaking.
You were not speaking.
Were you speaking?
Exceptions in Spelling
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.
• two actions happening at the same time (in the past) Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.
• 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
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