PAST PROGRESSIVE (PAST CONTINUOUS)

The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.

Form

	Positive	Negative	Question
I / he / she / it	I was speaking.	I was not speaking.	Was I speaking?
you / we / they	You were speaking.	You were not speaking.	Were you speaking?

Use of Past Progressive

• puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past

         Example: He was playing football.

• two actions happening at the same time (in the past)

        Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

• action going on at a certain time in the past

      Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.