Past Continuous or Progressive

Past Continuous

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

      I.            Form

 

Subject	Positive
I / he / she / it	I was speaking.
you / we / they	You were speaking.

   II.            Exceptions in Spelling

Exceptions in spelling when adding ing	Example
final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed)	come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled	sit – sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English)	travel – travelling
final ie becomes y	lie – lying

III.            Use of Past Progressive

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

Example: He was playing football.

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

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

Ø  action going on at a certain time in the past

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

 IV.            Signal Words of Past Progressive

v  when, while, as long as