Past Continuos/Progressive Tense

1.      Past Continuos/Progressive Tense

This tense expresses an activity was happening in the past when another activity happened. In other words, both actions occurred at the same time but one action began earlier and was in progress when the other action occurred.

Pattern

(+)  S + was/were + V ing + O

(-)   S + was/were + not + V ing + O

(?)  was/were + S + V ing + O?

Sometimes the past continous is used in both parts of a sentence when two actions are in progress simultaneously.

·         While I was studying in my room, my sister was watching television with loud speaker.

Examples :

·         I was walking down the street when it began to rain. (first: I was walking down the street, second: it began to rain)

·         At eight o’clock last night, I was studying English. (my study began before 8 o’clock, was in progress at that time, and probably continued)

·         I am sitting in class right now. I was sitting in class at this exact same time yesterday.