ESL Grammar: Past Progressive

Forms of Past Progressive 

Affirmative 

Subject   +   to be   +   ing verb

Example: They were eating apples

Negative

Subject   +   to be   +   not   +   ing verb

Example: He was not running last week.

Question

To be   +   subject   +   ing verb

Example: Were you drinking yesterday?

Uses of Past Progressive 

1. Use the past continuous to indicate a longer action in the past was interrupted by a shorter action. I was playing video when my friend called. While we were eating, it started to rain. 

2. Specific time as an interruption. Last night at 7, they were watching a movie. At midnight, she was taking a bath. 

3. When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. I was walking while listening to music in the park. She was texting her friend, working on homework and eating at the same time.

Past Progressive Exercises 

Instructions: Choose the correct sentence 

1) A. He were running in the street. B. I was shooting the ball.
Which sentence is correct?
2) A. They were dribbling the basketball. B. We was watching the clock.
Which sentence is correct?
3. A. It were going out of bounds. B. She was diving for the basketball.
Which sentence is correct?

Instructions: Make the sentence negative
1) I was dreaming, before I woke up.
2) She was listening to music, eating an apple and writing in her notebook at same time.
3)While my friend talked to Mary, I was drinking beer in the corner of the room.

Instructions: Ask your teacher a question with the verb in the past progressive tense 
1) to jump
2) to hug
3) to cut

ESL Past Progressive Conversation Questions 

Instructions: Answer the question using the past progressive tense. 

1. What were you doing yesterday at 4 pm?

2. What were you thinking about the last time you brushed your teeth?

3. How were you feeling the last time you finished work or school?

4. What music were you listening to the last time you were in the car?

5. What were you doing when you met your best friend?

6. Where were you watching the last World Cup?