The Past Progressive Tense

The past progressive expresses an activity that was in progress

(was occurring, was happening) at a point of time in the past

(e.g., at 6:10) or at the time of another action (e.g., when

Tom came.) in (a): eating was in progress at 6:10; eating was

In progress when Tom came

Example:

(a) I sat down at the dinner table at 6:00 PM yesterday.

Tom came to my house at 6:10 PM. I was eating
dinner when Tom came.
(b) I went to bed at 10:00. The phone rang at 11:00.
I was sleeping when the phone rang.
(c) When the phone rang, I was sleeping.
(d) The phone rang while I was sleeping.
Note: when = at that time
While = during that time
(c) and (d) have the same meaning.

(e) while I was doing my homework, my roommate was

watching TV.

Note: when two actions are in progress at the same time,

the past progressive can be used in both parts of

the sentence.

The Pattern:

(+) I, she, he, it + was + V-ing + O/C

You, we, they + were + V-ing + O/C

(-) I, she, he, it + was + not + V-ing + O/C

You, we, they + were + not + V-ing + O/C

(?) was + I, she, he, it + V-ing + O/C + ?

Were + You, we, they + V-ing + O/C + ?

1. At 6:00 PM, Bob sat down at the table and began

to eat. At 6:05, Bob (eat) was eating dinner.

2. While Bob (eat) was eating dinner, Ann (come) came through the
door.
3. In other words, when Ann (come) came through the door,
Bob (eat) was eating dinner.
4. Bob went to bed at 10:30. At 11:00, Bob (sleep) was sleeping.
5. While Bob (sleep) was sleeping, the phone (ring) rang
6. In other words, when the phone (ring) rang, Bob (sleep)
was sleeping
7. Bob left his house at 8:00 AM and (begin) began to walk
to class. While he (walk) was walking to class, he (see) saw Mrs. Smith.
8. When Bob (see) saw Mrs. Smith, she (stand) was standing on her
front porch. She (hold) was holding a broom. Mrs. Smith (wave)
was waving at Bob when she (see) saw him.

Homework:
1) Sally (eat)dinner last night when someone
(knock)on the door.
2) I began to study at seven last night. Fred (come)

3) While I (study)last night, Fred (drop by)to
visit me.
4) My roommates parents (call)him last night
While we (watch)TV.
5) Yesterday afternoon I (go)to visit the Parker
Family. When I (get)there around two oclock,
Mrs. Parker (be)in the yard. She (plant)
flowers in her garden. Mr. parker (be)in the
garage. He (work)on their car. He (change)
the oil. The children (play)in the front yard.
In other words, while Mr. Parker (fix)the oil
in the car, the children (play)with a ball in the
yard.