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English
Reinforcement
Course
PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
Usage and Application
We use a form of to be (was or were), the infinitive of the verb and the ending / ing.
The past progressive is used when we talk about something which was happening at a special time in the past. It is also called past continuous. Some examples are:
1. ACTION WAS IN PROGRESS AT SPECIAL TIME IN THE PAST for example:
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Peter WAS READING a book yesterday evening.
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She WAS LISTENING to the radio.
2. TWO ACTIONS WERE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME (The actions do not influence each other). For example:
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Juliette WAS WRITING a letter while David was reading a magazine.
TOGETHER WITH THE SIMPLE PAST:
The action in the simple past interrupted the action in the past progressive:
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While we WERE SITTING at the breakfast table, the telephone RANG
Note: The past progressive: WERE SITTING at the table.
Simple past: RANG.
3. REPEATED ACTIONS IRRITATING THE SPEAKER (with always, constantly, forever) for example:
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Joseph WAS always COMING late.
More examples:
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I WAS WALKING down the street when it began to rain
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While I WAS WALKING down the street, it began to rain
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Rita WAS STANDING under a tree when it began to rain
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At eight o clock last night, I WAS studying.
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While I WAS STUDYING in one room, of our apartment, my roommate WAS HAVING a party in the other room.