Tenses (IV) – Past Tenses (IV) – Past progressiveprogressive

UseUse• An action that was in progress at a time in the past.

E.g: - I was working in Spain in 1989.• To explain the background to another past event or action.

E.g: - I was teaching in primary school when I met my husband.• The exceptions in spelling are the same present progressive.

• Signal words:– when

– while

– as long as

– (...)

UseUse• Form:

Affirmative formAffirmative formI was

you were

he/she/it was

we were

you were

they were

• “was” I, he, she, it and the singular form of nouns

• “were” you, we, they and the plural form of nouns

• Subject + verb “to be” in past + verb –ing + ...E.g: - I was watching TV.

Negative formNegative form• was not / were not (subject + was / were not + verb –ing + ...)

E.g: - I wasn’t playing football.

Interrogative formInterrogative form• Was / Were (Was / Were + subject + verb –ing + ...?)

E.g:

- Were you using a mobile?

- Yes, I was / No, I wasn’t.