Definition: The past progressive tense is also commonly called the past continuous.

This tense explains how an ongoing action has been completed in the past.

It is made using the past tense of the verb be and the -ing form.

How to make statements in the past progressive tense

How to make negative sentences

How to ask a question

How do we use the past progressive tense?

1. We use it to refer to something which happened before and after another action.

Examples

• The soldiers were marching in a straight line during last year’s national Independence Day celebration.
• We sang while they were dancing. 

2. We use the past progressive to refer to something that happened before and after a specific time.

             Examples

•          I was writing my journal when it was 6 AM.
•          At 3 O’clock, they were cleaning their room.

3. We use the past progressive to refer to something which happened repeatedly.

         Example 

•       I was exercising every day at the gym, two times a day. 
•       We were planning trips to Tokyo for 19 years before we got married.
•       They were always clapping at the stadium.

4. We use the past progressive to show that something continued to happen for some time.

This can be used to describe a habitual action in the past.

Examples 

• They were jumping. 
• Her tooth was arching.

5. We use it with verbs that demonstrate progress or growth.

          Examples

• The plant was growing up quickly.
•  My city was developing rapidly.
•  Their French was improving.

Exception

For all stative verbs, the form changes.

For example, we needed a shower when we got to the hotel.

In this example, we cannot say was needing a shower.

Exercises

1. We  ……..(listen) to music.
2. They…….(stand) in the front line.
3. She  ………(drive) to the park at 4 pm.
4. He  ……..(run) around the football court. 
5. We ……..(celebrate) her birthday yesterday.
6. Were you ……..(dance) at the party?
7. It ……. (eat) very fast.
8. The neighborhood …….(change) very quickly.
9. Joyce ……(travel) to Boko every two years
10. My grandfather………..(not/read) without wearing his glasses.
11.  Mr. Peter ………….(not/act)on this episode of the show.
12. The cats …….(play)in the garden when I return.
13. Every year since 2019, I ……(go) on vacation to the islands in the Philippines. 
14. The maid…….(not/clean) when the robbers came. 
15. She …….(take) the trash out when the doorbell rang.
16. Every 4 years, we…..(travel) to a different country for work visits. 
17. My stomach ……..(ache) for 3hours last night.
18. My uncle……..(call) my Dad every morning before he moved to another city. 
19. When I entered the room, my Mum ……(sleep) deeply. 
20. Last Monday, at 7am I ……..(prepare)supper. 
21. The boys……(play)at the stadium when it began to rain.
22. They (not/cycle) all day at the park.
23. While John …….(clean)the living room, his sisters ………(watch) TV.
24. Tom and his mother ……(go) to the market to shop.
25. At 2 O’clock, Peter ……(climb) the tree.
26. You…….(cook) lunch at 6 PM.
27. Mr.Paul………(not/talk) when the students …….(sit).
28. When we started watching the movie, Mama and Papa…….(not/discussing). 
29. At 9 AM, Pauline ……….(not/read) her novel in the room.
30.  My friends and I ………(drink) coffee at the cafe at 5:30 PM.

Make sentences with the following verbs using the past progressive tense.

More studies on the simple past tense can be found on this link.