Past ProgressivePast ProgressivePast ProgressivePast ProgressiveLearn the situations when Learn the situations when

the past continuous is used.the past continuous is used.

What is the past progressive?

• The past progressive is formulated as was/were + verb + ing.

• Only action verbs about physical actions that you can see somebody doing can be progressive.

• Non-action verbs are never progressive.1. Non-action abstract verbs: be, seem, want, need,

care, contain, cost, and owe.2. Non-action possession verbs include have,

possess, own, and belong.3. Non-action emotion verbs: like, love, hate, dislike,

fear, envy, and mind.

Is it correct to say thatI am loving McDonalds?

Are the verbs active or not?

Is it correct to say thatI am working late tonight?

Identify each verb as action or non-action:

__1. look 6. taste

__2. drive 7. run

__3. like 8. take

__4. work 9. own

__5. hate 10. eat

Can you use past progressive?

• Use the simple past or past progressive to complete the following sentences.

1. A: What (you, do) __ when you got hurt? B: I (try) __ to change a light bulb that was bad.

2. After I (find) __ the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) __ to the police and (turn) __ it in for the official reward.

3. The doctor (say) __ that Tom (be) __ too sick to go to work and that he (need) __ to stay at home for a couple of days.

Is there a real difference between simple past and past progressive?

Are you using past progressive?

• Use the simple past or past progressive to complete the following sentences.

4. A: I (call) __ you last night after dinner, but you (be, not) __ there. Where were you? B: I (work) __ out at the fitness center.

5. I (watch) __ a mystery movie on T.V. when the electricity (go) __ out. Now I (never, go) __ to find out how the movie (end) __.

6. It's strange that you (call) __ because I (think, just) __ about you.

Can you tell the difference between simple past and past progressive?

When do we use past progressive?

• Past progressive verbs are used for

1. Interrupted action in the past

2. Specific time as an interruption

3. Parallel continuous actions

4. Description of a situation

5. Repetition and irritation with “always”

What was the man doing whenthe other man interrupted?

1. Past progressive is used

with interruptions.• The past progressive expresses past

continuing activity, often when another action interrupted.

Verbs: ring, say, be, sleep, wake, and call.

1. Until he went to sleep, Ali was thinking.2. He __ when Tina __ him on his home phone.3. So the phone __ when suddenly Ali __ up.4. “Hi,” Tina __, “__ you sleeping already?”5. “Yes, I __ sleeping until you __ me up,” Ali

answered.

Why are some of the verbs progressivewhile other verbs are not?

2. Past progressive is used

with time interruptions.

• The past progressive can tell past continuing activity, with a specific time interruption.

Verbs: end, be, eat, think, and write.

1. Until 11:30, Ed __ an essay on the computer, but then class __ so he had to stop.

2. At noon, he __ lunch, but he still __ about his English essay.

3. At midnight, he still __ about the essay because it __ very important to him.

Should Ed stop worrying about his English essay?

3. Past progressive is used

with parallel actions.

• The past progressive can tell past continuing activity, with parallel continuous actions.

Verbs: read, study, practice, cut, make, mix.

1. Last night, Tina __ English while she __ dinner.2. She __ a lesson and __ vegetables for a salad.3. Tina __ pronunciation while she __ up a cake.4. In fact, she __ a smart meal for her family.5. __ you __ while you work on something else?

Is Tina a good studentand a good cook?

4. Past progressive is used

with active descriptions.• The past progressive can tell past continuing

activity, with descriptions of action situations.

Verbs: type, yell, wave, wait, complain, and talk.

1. In the office, several people __ on machines.2. Some busy workers __ on the telephones.3. As usual, the boss __ directions to everyone.4. Lots of impatient customers __ to be helped. 5. One __ at a secretary and __ his hands. 6. Others __ to each other of the bad service.

Would you like to workin that office?

5. Past progressive is used

with irritating repetitions.

• The past progressive can tell past continuing activity, with repeated and irritated “always.”

Verbs: talk, move, tell, and make.

1. Alfredo __ always __ in English writing class.2. The students near him __ constantly __ him to

shut up, but he didn’t listen to them at all.3. “We can’t think or write with you __ noise,”

they said everyday. “Give us a break, OK?”4. In the end, the professor __ nervous Alfredo to a

seat alone in the back of the room.

Would you like to go sit with Alfredo?

Can you use the academic vocabulary?

• Words to use: consumer, positive, appropriate, credit, and focus.

1. How many points do you need to get full __?2. Does a __ only buy things, or does he also

use them up?3. Is it __ when you get good scores in all your

classes?4. Is it __ for English professors to teach math?5. Do you like to __ on beautiful views?

Watch for these words on the nextacademic vocabulary quiz.