Past Progressive

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Past Progressive

• Learn the situations when
• the past continuous is used.

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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.
• Non-action abstract verbs be, seem, want, need,
  care, contain, cost, and owe.
• Non-action possession verbs include have,
  possess, own, and belong.
• Non-action emotion verbs like, love, hate,
  dislike, fear, envy, and mind.

Is it correct to say thatI am loving McDonalds?
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Are the verbs active or not?
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

Is it correct to say thatI am working late
tonight?
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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?
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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?
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When do we use past progressive?

• Past progressive verbs are used for
• Interrupted action in the past
• Specific time as an interruption
• Parallel continuous actions
• Description of a situation
• Repetition and irritation with always

What was the man doing when the other man
interrupted?
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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.
• Until he went to sleep, Ali was thinking.
• He __ when Tina __ him on his home phone.
• So the phone __ when suddenly Ali __ up.
• Hi, Tina __, __ you sleeping already?
• Yes, I __ sleeping until you __ me up, Ali
  answered.

Why are some of the verbs progressive while other
verbs are not?
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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.
• Until 1130, Ed __ an essay on the computer, but
  then class __ so he had to stop.
• At noon, he __ lunch, but he still __ about his
  English essay.
• At midnight, he still __ about the essay because
  it __ very important to him.

Should Ed stop worrying about his English essay?
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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.
• Last night, Tina __ English while she __ dinner.
• She __ a lesson and __ vegetables for a salad.
• Tina __ pronunciation while she __ up a cake.
• In fact, she __ a smart meal for her family.
• __ you __ while you work on something else?

Is Tina a good student and a good cook?
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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.
• In the office, several people __ on machines.
• Some busy workers __ on the telephones.
• As usual, the boss __ directions to everyone.
• Lots of impatient customers __ to be helped.
• One __ at a secretary and __ his hands.
• Others __ to each other of the bad service.

Would you like to work in that office?
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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.
• Alfredo __ always __ in English writing class.
• The students near him __ constantly __ him to
  shut up, but he didnt listen to them at all.
• We cant think or write with you __ noise, they
  said everyday. Give us a break, OK?
• 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?
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Can you use the academic vocabulary?

• Words to use consumer, positive, appropriate,
  credit, and focus.
• How many points do you need to get full __?
• Does a __ only buy things, or does he also use
  them up?
• Is it __ when you get good scores in all your
  classes?
• Is it __ for English professors to teach math?
• Do you like to __ on beautiful views?

Watch for these words on the next academic
vocabulary quiz.