The Past Progressive Tense

Talking about dynamic ongoing activities that continued for a limited stretch of time in the past

The Past Progressive tense (or Past Continuous) is a verb tense in English that describes on-going actions that continued for a specific stretch of time in the past and ended. It stresses that the doer was in the middle of a dynamic activity while other activities may have been happening at the same time. To know more, read these sections of our review on the Past Progressive in English.

1. Slogan

2. Usages

3. Form

4. Common time expressions

5. Negative statements and questions

6. Summary

1. Slogan: “I was in the middle of doing something, and something else may have been happened in the same time”

The slogan encapsulates the basic meaning of the Past Progressive, so use it when hesitating about what verb form to choose in your English writing. Remembering one short slogan can help you navigate through all the grammar rules it relates to.

2. Usages:

Read through the table and try to understand the connection between the usages and the slogan.

Watch out !

• If the second action was new and not already in process parallel to the first action; or took place after or before the first action, rather than at the same time, you need the Past Simple tense (marked in red).

While we were having the staff meeting, the electricity went off.

[ were having is in the Past Progressive because it was already in progress, went off is in the Past Simple because it refers to a new instantaneous occurrence, which took place during the longer activity]

After the electricity went off, my boss brought some flash lights and candles and continued the meeting, which ended an hour later.

[All the verbs in red are in the Past Simple as all the actions happened one after the other, and not simultaneously, during one another]

• If you are just mentioning the mere fact that something happened and finished in the past, use the Past Simple tense. If you want to emphasize the progression of the activity and the time and effort that was invested around a certain point of time in the past, use the Past Progressive.

Yesterday I baked a cake.

[mere mentioning of a completed past action, “it simply happened, nothing special” -- use the Past Simple]

At 6 p.m. yesterday, I was making a cake for Tom’s birthday.

[I devoted a considerable amount of time and effort baking, instead of doing something else, like going to the gym, so “appreciate it !” -- use the Past Progressive]

• Stative verbs ( appear, realize, love, sound) are more commonly used with simple tenses rather than with progressive tenses.

Advanced Usage of the Past Progressive:

3. Form

The Past Progressive verb is a compound verb, composed of the auxiliary to be, which agrees with the subject in form, and the present participle (Ving). Make sure you do not forget the auxiliary verb.

Remember: V1=base form, V2=Past Simple, V3=Past Participle, Ving=Present Participle

Watch out !

Remember to use the 2-part Past Progressive verb with the correct form of to be to agree with the subject.

4. Common Time Expressions

The Past Progressive is used with time expressions (in blue) informing that the action was taking place over a stretch of time, which was of temporary nature. It is common for the Past Progressive to appear in a dependent clause that constitutes the time modifier of the main clause.

dependent clause=time modifer

While Dr. Smith was visiting her uncle,

independent clause=main clause

she was suddenly called back to the hospital.

5. Negative Sentences and Question Types in the Past Progressive

Negative Statements:

The 3 Question Types:

1. Yes/No Questions:

2. Wh Questions:

3. Wh-Subject Questions:

Watch out !

• In Wh subject-questions in the Past Progressive, the verb is always in the third person singular form, with is as an auxiliary verb.

6. Summary

This has been a review about the usage and formation of the Past Progressive tense in English grammar. It is mostly used to refer to live dynamic actions that were going on in the past within a framework of a limited time period. Reviewing the rules is not enough to make you use it properly. The more you pick it up in your reading, and more importantly, use it in your English writing, the better you will use it.

Grammar Guide Index

Grammar Rules

Grammar Exercises

Parts of Speech - General Overview

Singular and Plural Nouns

English Adjectives - Basic Terms

English Verbs (Part 1) - Basic Terms

English Verbs (Part 2) - More Terms

The Verb To Be

Negative Sentences and Question Formation

The Irregular Verbs in English (Part 1)

The Irregular Verbs in English (Part 2)