Past progressive

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Simple past
• The simple past
refers to a
completed action
at one particular
time in the past.
Simple past
.I walked home
.They lived in London
We tried to turn the car
.around
.Thunder clapped
.Lighting flashed

Regular: verb + ed = past tense

Irregular
.He went on a trip last weekend
We left the city to see the
.country
.The clouds grew dark
.A strong wind began to blow
.We drove for endless hours
Past progressive
• The past progressive
refers to an action in
progress during a
particular time in the
past. It is formed with
was/ were + the –ing
form of the verb.
Past progressive
I was playing video games all
afternoon.
Where were you? We were waiting
for hours!
I was running back to the hotel.
The wind was blowing.
The waves were crashing over our
canoe.
 Question form
• Was he doing his homework at
5:00?
• Were they swimming in the
pool?
• Were you waiting for hours?
• Was I running fast?
• Was she playing video games all
afternoon?
• The past progressive is
often used with a when
clause. This use draws
attention to the idea of
one action in progress
interrupted by another
past action. The simple
past is used in the when
clause.
 Past progressive with when
clause
• I was practicing the piano when
the electricity went out.
• They were walking their dog when
lighting struck a tree next to
them.
• I was swimming when it began to
rain.
• We were fishing when it suddenly
got very windy.
 Question form
• What was she doing when the
accident happened?
• What were you doing when the
electricity went out?
• What were they doing when
the lighting struck a tree?
• What was he doing when it
began to rain?
 The when clause can go
first or it can go second.
The meaning is the
.same
• When the accident
happened, she was riding
her bike.
• She was riding her bike
when the accident
happened.
• The past progressive is
also often used with a
while clause. This use is
also focuses on the idea
of an action in progress
interrupted by another
past action. But in this
case, the past
progressive is used in the
while clause.
Past progressive with while
clause
• While I was taking a shower,
the telephone rang.
• While Dan and David were
playing basketball, it began to
rain.
• While I was running, I fell and
broke my ankle.
• While we were driving, it got
very cold and snowy.
 The while clause can go first or it
can go second. The meaning is
.the same

• While they were riding their

bikes, it began to rain.
• It began to rain while they
were riding their bikes.
 Question form

• What happened while they

were playing basketball?
• What happened while they
were riding their bikes?
• What happened while she was
reading a book?
• What happened while he was
walking home?
Good
!luck