PAST PROGRESSIVE.

What Is the Past Progressive Tense? (with Examples)

The past progressive tense is used to describe an on-going activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.

Traducción: 

¿Qué es el tiempo progresivo pasado? El tiempo progresivo pasado se usa para describir una actividad en curso en el pasado. A menudo, se utiliza para establecer la escena para otra acción

Examples of the Past Progressive Tense

The past progressive tense can be used to describe an activity in the past which was interrupted:

• He was painting the door when a bird struck the window.
• They were sleeping when the alarm went off.

You can also have a negative version:

• He wasn't painting the door when a bird struck the window.
• They weren't sleeping when the alarm went off.

And the question version:

• Was he painting the door when a bird struck the window?
• Were they sleeping when the alarm went off?

The past progressive tense can also 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?

And, it can be used for describing an action which 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

Here is an infographic explaining the past progressive tense:

The Other Past Tenses

The past progressive tense is one of four past tenses. They are:

The 4 Past Tenses	Example
simple past tense	I went
past progressive tense	I was going
past perfect tense	I had gone
past perfect progressive tense	I had been going