Past Progressive (Past Continuous)

The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.

Form
Positive I / he / she / it I was speaking. you / we / they You were speaking. Negative I was not speaking. You were not speaking. Question Was I speaking? Were you speaking?

Exceptions in Spelling Exceptions in spelling when adding ing final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed) after a short stressed !owel the final consonant is doubled l as final consonant after a !owel is doubled (in "ritish #nglish) final ie becomes y

Example come coming (but: agree agreei ng) sit sitting tra!el tra!elling 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

ut the verbs into the correct form !past progressive". #. When I phoned my friends, they !play" $. %esterday at six I !prepare"
w ere playin

monopoly.

dinner.

&. The kids !play" (. I !practise" ). We !not * cycle" +. While ,aron !'ork" pool.

in the garden 'hen it suddenly began to rain. the guitar 'hen he came home. all day. in his room, his friends !s'im" in the

-. I tried to tell them the truth but they !listen * not" .. What !you * do" 0. 1ost of the time 'e !sit" yesterday/ in the park.

Simple Past Past Progressive

Exercises and Tests

Form
Simple Past Past Progressive

irregular verbs: see $nd column of irregular verbs I spoke regular verbs: verb 2 ed I 'orked
Exceptions Exceptions when adding 'ed' :

past form of 3be3 2 ing form of verb I 'as speaking you 'ere speaking he * she * it 'as speaking 'e 'ere speaking they 'ere speaking
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

when the final letter is e only add d.

silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: love 4 loved

after a short stressed !owel the final consonant is doubled

Example: come 4 coming but: agree 4 agreeing

after a short stressed !owel the final consonant is doubled

Example: admit 4 admitted

final l is always doubled in "ritish #nglish

(not in $merican #nglish)

Example: sit 4 sitting

Example: travel 4 travelled

final l is always doubled in "ritish #nglish (not in $merican #nglish)

after a consonant final y becomes i. (but: not after a !owel)

Example: travel 4 travelling

Example: 'orry 4 he 'orried but: play 4 he played

final ie becomes y.

Example: lie 4 lying 5ee also explanations on 5imple ast and ast rogressive

Use
After another or at the same time?

6o you 'ant to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time/
Simple Past after another Past Progressive at the same time

5he came home, s'itched on the computer and checked her e4mails.
New action or already in progress?

5imon 'as playing on the computer 'hile his brother 'as 'atchin T7.

If you 'ant to express that a ne' action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses: 5imple ast the ne' action and ast rogressive for the action already in progress.
Simple Past new action Past Progressive action already in progress

1y mobile rang !'hen I 'as sitting in a meeting."

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

While I 'as sitting in a meeting, !my mobile suddenly rang."

6o you 8ust 'ant to mention that an action took place in the past !also used for short actions"/ 9r do you 'ant to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action 'as taking place at a certain time/
Simple Past Past Progressive

just mentioning

emphasising progress

:olin played football yesterday.

ertain !er"s

%esterday at six o3clock, :olin 'as playing football.

The follo'ing verbs are usually only used in 5imple ast !not in the progressive form".

state: be cost fit mean suit

Example: We 'ere on holiday.

possession: belong ha!e

Example: 5am had a cat.

senses: feel hear see smell taste touch

Example: He felt the cold.

feelings: hate hope like lo!e prefer regret want wish

Example: ;ane loved pi<<a.

rain wor!: belie!e know think understand

Example: I did not understand him.

introductory clauses for direct speech: answer ask reply say

Example: =I am 'atching T7,= he said.

Signal words Simple Past

Past Progressive

first then If%&at' (yp II (If I talked ))

when while as long as

ut the verbs into the correct tense !simple past or past progressive". #. When I !do"
w as doing

the 'ashing4up, I !break"

broke

a plate.

$. While Tom !play" up. &. He !drink" (. I !have"

the piano, his mother !do"

the 'ashing4

some 8uice and then he !eat" dinner 'hen I suddenly !hear"

a fe' chips. a loud bang.

). When my father !'ork" by to see him. +. 5he !go" to learn. -. When it !start" .. When ;ane !do" >larney :astle. 0. When I !be" #?. I !not * understand"

in the garden, an old friend !pass"

to school, !take"

out her textbook and !begin"

to rain, our dog !'ant"

to come inside.

a language course in Ireland, she !visit"

on my 'ay home, I !see" 'hat they !talk"

an accident. about.

ut the verbs into the correct tense !5imple ast or ast rogressive". #. When I !get" $. It !is" &. 5o I !decide" (. I !go" ). While I !cycle" their gardens. +. 9ne man !mo'" stra'berries. up yesterday, the sun !shine" a beautiful morning. to cycle around a little. to the shed and !take" out my bike. some people in .

past some villages, I !see"

the grass 'hile his 'ife !pick"

-. ,fter one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly !appear" and it !start" .. @uckily, a farmer !notice" 0. While it !rain" to rain. me and !tell" me to come in. in the farmer3s house.

outside, I !sit"

#?. ,fter a 'hile, the sun !come" ##. I !thank"

out again. on.

the farmer for his hospitality and !move"