2.2.1: Past Progressive Tense
- Page ID
- 257416
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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 (Past Continuous) Tense
Forming the Past Progressive
In the past progressive tense, we use the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were) followed by the present participle (verb + "-ing" form) of the main verb.
| Subject | "to be" (past tense) | Verb + "-ing" form | Rest of the sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | was | working | yesterday. |
| You | were | studying | all night. |
| He/She/It | was | cooking | when I arrived. |
| We | were | hiking | in the mountains. |
| They | were | playing | soccer at that time. |
Exercise 1:
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate past progressive form of the verbs.
- While I _________________ (cook), my friends were setting the table.
- They __________________ (play) football when it started raining.
- She ________________ (study) for her exams at midnight last night.
- We _________________ (drive) to the beach when we saw the sunset.
- He __________________ (ride) his bike when it broke down.
- The children ________________ (build) a sandcastle on the beach while their parents were relaxing in the sun.
- While she __________________ (watch) TV, her mom was cooking dinner.
- They ___________________ (dance) at the party when the power went out.
- I ___________________ (read) a book while waiting for the train.
- The birds ____________________ (sing) in the trees as we walked through the park.
(Chart and exercise created in ChatGPT)
Negative Form:
| Subject | "to be" (past tense) | Not | Verb + "-ing" form | Rest of the sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | was | not | working | yesterday. |
| You | were | not | studying | all night. |
| He/She/It | was | not | cooking | when I arrived. |
| We | were | not | hiking | in the mountains. |
| They | were | not | playing | soccer at that time. |
Contractions can also be used:
I /She/ He/ It wasn't
You / We/ They weren't
Question Form:
| Question Word | Subject | "to be" (past tense) | Verb + "-ing" form | Rest of the sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (When) | was | I | bothering you | yesterday? |
| (Why) | were | you | studying | all night? |
| (What) | was | he/she/it | cooking | when you arrived? |
| (Where) | were | we | hiking | in the mountains last year? |
| (How) | were | they | doing | in their classes at that time? |
In negatives, "not" is added after the past tense of the verb "to be." In questions, the past tense of the verb "to be" is placed at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject, and then the present participle (verb + "-ing" form) of the main verb.
(Charts created in ChatGPT)
Using the Past Progressive (Continuous)
The past progressive tense, also known as the past continuous tense, is used to describe actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the past. Here's an explanation of how and when to use the past progressive tense:
- Ongoing Actions in the Past: We use the past progressive tense to describe actions that were happening at a specific point in the past. These actions were in progress and were not necessarily completed. For example:
- "I was studying all night for my exam yesterday."
- "They were playing football when it started raining."
- Actions Happening Simultaneously: The past progressive tense is used to describe two or more actions that were happening simultaneously in the past. It emphasizes that both actions were ongoing at the same time. For example:
- "While I was cooking, my friends were setting the table."
- "She was studying for her exams while her mom was cooking dinner."
- Background Actions: The past progressive tense is also used to describe actions that were happening in the background while another action occurred. The action in the past progressive tense sets the scene or provides context for the main action. For example:
- "He was fixing his bike when it broke down."
- "The birds were singing in the trees as we walked through the park."
- Interrupted Actions: Sometimes, the past progressive tense is used to describe actions that were interrupted by another action in the past. The interrupted action is often in the past progressive tense, while the interrupting action is usually in the simple past tense. For example:
- "I was reading a book when the phone rang."
- "They were dancing at the party when the power went out."
Overall, the past progressive tense is used to emphasize the ongoing nature of actions in the past or to provide background information about events that were happening at a specific point in time. It helps to convey a sense of continuity or duration in storytelling or describing past events.
(Explanation created in ChatGPT)
The following content is from: Don Bissonnette-Grammar the Way You like It
Examples of Two Actions at the Same Time:
While we were studying, the telephone rang.
My front tire blew out while I was driving home from school.
When their mother was preparing dinner, the boys came home.
When I got to class, my students were waiting for me.
Examples of Two Actions of Equal Duration of Time:
While I was ironing my clothes, I was watching a DVD.
While my older son was taking a shower, my younger son was waiting for him to finish so that he could take a shower.
While my son was driving my car, I was sitting next to him.
Examples of One Action Use of the Past continuous (progressive) Tense
Yesterday I started working in my garden at 8:00 AM and stayed in my garden until 8:00 PM. I was working all day long in my garden.
I was correcting homework papers for four hours last night.
Both of my sons were still sleeping at 2:00 PM yesterday.
My sons and I were watching movies all afternoon long on Saturday.
Exercise 2:
Make one sentence using the following actions. One of the actions will require the past progressive (continuous) tense, and the other one will require the simple past tense.
For example: pick potatoes in my garden find a piece of glass
While I was picking potatoes in my garden yesterday, I found a piece of glass.
1. stop to buy a coffee drive to school
2. work in my office get a phone call from my wife
3. speak to my son not listen to me
4. break a glass help my wife in the kitchen
5. watch television fall asleep
6. eat breakfast open a window in my kitchen
7. shop with my sons buy two toys for them
8. mow my lawn run out of gas in the lawnmower
9. watch TV eat dinner
10. do my homework answer the phone
Exercise 3:
The following sentences are written using simple past and past progressive forms. Change the following sentences to the negative. Remember to add the helping verb "did" for simple past negative forms.
1. We were eating lunch with our friends.
2. We ate lunch with our friends.
3. I was writing an exercise for my students yesterday evening.
4. I wrote an exercise for my students yesterday.
5. My sons were talking to each other on Skype last night.
6. My sons spoke to each other on Skype last night.
7. The boy was watching the baseball game on TV last night.
8. The boy watched the baseball game on TV yesterday.
9. The team was winning the soccer game.
10. The team won the soccer game.