Past Progressive
- We use the Past Progressive to describe actions\activities\processes\changes that were happening in a specific time frame in the past.
- Let’s review the following sentence: “That month, I was working on a new project” the time frame - that month. The activity: working on a new project. Even if the time frame wasn’t indicated in the sentence (i.e. “this month”) the existence of one would be inferred as it is a progressive structure.
We use the Past Progressive to talk about:
- Actions that were happening in a certain time frame.
- Focusing on an activity in the past, telling what happened during and around that activity.
- Simultaneous actions in the past\creating atmosphere for a story in the past.
- Continuous Processes\changes in the past.
- Things that were always happening with a negative connotation.
- Temporary situations in the past.
- Talking about a progressive action that was interrupted in the past.
I was having\eating breakfast between 8:00-8:30, that’s why I didn’t answer the phone. (actions in a time frame) | They were buying clothes for their party yesterday afternoon, that’s why they couldn’t meet us. (actions in a time frame) |
I was watching TV yesterday, the host was interviewing two politicians. They talked about the economic situation (focusing on an activity) | They were studying for their exam, it wasn’t easy. They had many questions, but eventually they figured it out. (focusing on an activity) |
Auditorium – people were whispering, talking to each other about the important lecture. The ushers were showing people to their seats quietly. (simultaneous actions in the past) | Call center – everywhere people were sitting looking depressed, the receptionist at the entrance was giving out numbers to people robotically, and three customers were shouting angrily at two representatives sitting at a desk (simultaneous actions in the past) |
The weather was becoming colder and colder, we had to buy new clothes. (progressive change in past) | Our English was getting better by spending time talking in class. (progressive change in past) |
She was always interrupting during class. (was always happening with negative connotation) | They were always making a mess in there, I was sick of it! (was always happening with negative connotation) |
I was living with a friend until I could find my own place. (temporary situation in the past) | I was working part time as a receptionist until I could find work in my field. (temporary situation in the past) |
I was walking down the street when suddenly I saw Fred; he came up to me and said hi. (interrupted action in the past) | I was reading the paper when, to my surprise, the doorbell rang, it was my neighbor Maya. (interrupted action in the past) |
Past Progressive Structure:
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I was studying at Bright English. |
I wasn’t studying at Bright English. |
Was I studying at Bright English? |
|
Yoni and I (we) were studying at Bright English. |
We weren’t studying at Bright English. |
Were we studying at Bright English? |
|
You were studying at Bright English. |
You weren’t studying at Bright English. |
Were you studying at Bright English? |
|
The men (they) were studying at Bright English. |
They weren’t studying at Bright English. |
Were they studying at Bright English? |
|
Ben (he) was studying at Bright English. |
He wasn’t studying at Bright English. |
Was he studying at Bright English? |
|
Maya (she) was studying at Bright English. |
She wasn’t studying at Bright English. |
Was she studying at Bright English? |
|
The computer (it) was studying well. |
It wasn’t studying well. |
Was it studying well? |
Past Progressive Rules:
Subject + was\were + verb.ing
- I, He, She, It = was
- We, You, They = were
- We use was\were+verb.ing to make the Past Progressive (I was eating\wasn’t eating\was I eating?)
- Wasn’t\weren’t + verb.ing. = the negative.
- Was\were + I,we,you,they,he,she,it = questions.
Common time expressions in the Past Progressive
Last Sunday\week\weekend\month\year. In 1992\3 etc. In the Nineteenth Century, in the 60’s, when I was a _____ ,always. Between X and Y. At ___
