Past Progressive Tense

Name:________________________________________group:___

The past progressive tense is used to describe an ongoing activity in

the past. For example:

 John was baking a cake.

 They were painting the fence.

Often, the past progressive tense is used to set the scene for another
action. For example:

 John was baking a cake when the storm started.

 They were painting the fence while I was cutting the grass.

The past progressive tense is also known as the "past continuous

tense".

Examples of the Past Progressive Tense

and Its Uses
Here are three common uses of the past progressive tense:

(1) The past progressive tense can be used to describe an activity in

the past that was interrupted:

 He was painting the door when a bird struck the window.

 They were sleeping when the alarm went off.
(2) The past progressive tense can be used for describing an action
taking place when another occurred.

 While they were painting the door, I painted the windows.

 While they weren't painting the door, I painted the windows.
 Were they painting the door when I painted the windows?
 Weren't they painting the door when I painted the windows?

(3) The past progressive tense can be used for describing an action
that was taking place at the same time as another:

 While they were painting the door, I was painting the

windows.

Forming the Past Progressive Tense

The past progressive tense is formed like this:

1. Affirmative Sentences (Frases afirmativas)

I / He / She / It + was + (verb + ing).

You / We / They + were + (verb + ing).

Examples:
I was talking. (Estaba hablando.)
He was eating. (Estaba comiendo.)
They were learning. (Estaban aprendiendo.)
2. Negative Sentences (Frases negativas)

I / He / She / It + was + not + (verb + ing).

You / We / They + were + not + (verb + ing).

Examples:

I was not [wasn't] talking. (No estaba hablando.)

They were not [weren't] eating. (No estaba comiendo.)

Spelling Rules –ING

Base form
Infinitive ING form

to feel……… feeling
to go………… going
to work……. working
to sleep…… sleeping

Spelling exceptions
1). If the verb ends in an E we remove the E and add ING.
Infinitive ING form
to live…………. Living
to have……….. having
to make………. Making
to take………… taking
Verbs ending with –ee:just add –ING
Agree……… agreeing
Flee……….. fleeing
See………… seeing

Verbs ending with -ie

Change the -ie to -y and add –ING
Die……….. dying
Tie……….. tying
Lie……….. lying

2). If the one-syllable verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we double

the final consonant and add ING.
Infinitive ING form
to stop………….. stopping to swim…………. swimming
to sit…………….. sitting
to plan………….. planning
to get…………… getting
3). But, we do not double the final consonant when the verb ends in W, X or Y or
when the final syllable is not emphasized.
Infinitive ING form
to fix…………….. fixing
to enjoy…………. Enjoying
to snow………….. snowing

4). If a two-syllable verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we do not

double the final consonant when the stress is on the first syllable.
to happen………… happening to suffer………………. suffering
to enter…………… entering
to offer……………. Offering
5). If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the final L and
add ING.
Infinitive ING form (UK) ING form (US)
to travel…. Travelling……….. traveling
to marvel… marvelling………. Marveling

Note: In the United States (US) they do not double the L when the accent is on the
first syllable.

6). If the verb ends in a stressed vowel + R, we double the final R and add ING.
Infinitive ING form
Refer…….. referring
Defer……... deferring

7). If the verb ends in an unstressed vowel + R, we do not double the final R and
add ING.
Infinitive ING form
to offer…….. offering
to suffer…… suffering
to whisper…. Whispering
ACTIVITY I

Read the following verbs. Write them with their –ing ending in the
correct Group.

Begin live close come cut get swim write

Go look win make raise play ask try
Lease put read ride ring forget take
Run set shop stay behave study think

Looking Closing shopping

ACTIVITY II.-

I.- Complete the following affirmavite sentences with the past continuos
form

Example:

When I phoned my friends, they were playing (play) monopoly.

1.- Yesterday at six I____________________________________(prepare)

dinner.

2.- The kids______________________________(play) in the garden when it

began to rain.

3.- Diana__________________________________(practice) when he came home

4.- We_________________________________________________(cycle) all day
5.- My brother and sister_________________________________(study) at 11 am
6.- Ethan_____________________________(drive) to work at 8:30 am.

II.- Change the following affirmavite sentences into a negative sentences

Example: It was raining……. It wasn´t raining

1.- The mobil was ringing…………______________________________________

2.- Max was dancing with two girls…_____________________________________

3.- We were listening to music….._______________________________________

4.- The students were texting…..________________________________________

5.- She was playing hockey……________________________________________

6.- I was waiting in front of the shop…..___________________________________