Past progressive (was/were + V-ing)
Past progressive (was/were + V-ing) means “Past progressive: an action in progress at a moment in the past”. Was/were + V-ing describes what was happening at a past moment: I was reading a book at nine last night. Formation: was/were + V-ing
Past progressive: an action in progress at a moment in the past
A2Formation
was/were + V-ing
Explanation
Was/were + V-ing describes what was happening at a past moment: I was reading a book at nine last night. It often sets the background, and the past simple gives the event that interrupts: She was cooking when I called her.
Examples
Note
The long background action takes was/were + V-ing; the short interrupting one takes the past simple: I was sleeping when the phone rang.
FAQ
Past progressive (was/were + V-ing) — what does it mean and how is it used?
Past progressive: an action in progress at a moment in the past. Was/were + V-ing describes what was happening at a past moment: I was reading a book at nine last night. It often sets the background, and the past simple gives the event that interrupts: She was cooking when I called her.
Past progressive (was/were + V-ing) — how do you form it?
was/were + V-ing
Past progressive (was/were + V-ing) — any usage notes?
The long background action takes was/were + V-ing; the short interrupting one takes the past simple: I was sleeping when the phone rang.