4.2: The Past Progressive - Overview
- Page ID
- 364082
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Past Progressive Tense
| Subject | was/were (+ not) | Present Participle (-ing) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| + / - | Subject | was/were (+ not) |
verb + -ing | object/complement (if needed) |
| Positive | The Tongva people | were | living | in the Los Angeles Basin for thousands of years. |
| Positive | Acjachemen families | were | gathering | acorns from the oak trees. |
| Positive | The hunter | was | tracking | deer through the canyon. |
| Negative | The Tongva children | were not | attending | European schools before 1769. |
| Negative | The Acjachemen | were not | using | metal tools. |
Important Note:
Adverb placement: Adverbs can be placed between was/were and the present participle.
Examples:
- The Tongva people were peacefully living in their villages.
- The Acjachemen hunters were carefully tracking the deer.
- The California landscape was gradually changing.
- The Spanish colonizers were quickly taking over the area.
Past Progressive: Yes/No Questions
Formation Rule:
To form Yes/No questions in Past Progressive: Move was/were to the beginning of the statement and add a question mark.
Statement: The traders were traveling to the island.
Question: Were the traders traveling to the island?
| Was/Were | Subject | Present Participle (-ing) | Remainder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Was/Were | Subject | verb + -ing | object/complement + ? |
| Were | the Tongva traders | traveling | to Catalina Island? Yes, they were often traveling to Catalina. |
| Were | Acjachemen women | weaving | baskets daily? Yes, they were weaving every day. |
| Was | the shaman | conducting | ceremonies? Yes, he was. |
| Were | the hunters | tracking | deer during autumn? Tribe members gathered acorns when they weren't hunting deer. |
| Were | Tongva children | learning | through oral traditions? Yes, they were. |
Past Progressive: WH Questions
Formation Pattern:
WH word + was/were + subject + verb-ing + remainder + ?
Example transformation:
Statement: The families were gathering food in the mountains.
Question: Where were the families gathering food?
| WH Word | Was/Were | Subject | Present Participle (-ing) | Remainder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WH word | was/were | Subject | verb + -ing | object/complement + ? |
| What | were | the Acjachemen women | weaving | with the tule grass? Answer: They were weaving baskets for food storage |
| Where | were | the Tongva people | building | their villages? Answer: Near rivers and creeks for water access |
| When | were | both tribes | gathering | acorns each year? Answer: During the fall months, especially October |
| Why | were | the hunters | wearing | deer hides while hunting? Answer: To camouflage themselves and get closer to deer |
| How | were | the Tongva traders | traveling | to Catalina Island? Answer: Using plank canoes called Ti'ats |
| Who | was | --- | leading | the Acjachemen ceremonies? Answer: The shaman was leading the ceremonies |
| How long | were | the children | learning | traditional skills? Answer: Throughout their childhood until adulthood |