Past Progressive Tense
The past progressive tense puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.


  Form
Form of Past Progressive


Use of Past Progressive

  • Puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past. Example: He was playing cricket.
  • 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.


Signal Words of Past Progressive

  • When
  • While
  • As long as