Past Progressive - Use

1) actions were in progress at special time in the past

Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.

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2) two actions were happening at the same time (the actions do not influence each other)

Anne was writing a letter while Steve was reading the New York Times.

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3) together with the Simple Past

While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.

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4) repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew was always coming late.

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Past Progressive - Signal words

while

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Past Progressive - Form

to be (was, were) + infinitive + -ing

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Past Progressive - Examples

Affirmative sentences:

I was playing football.

You were playing football.

Negative sentences:

I was not playing football. I was't playing football.

You were not playing football. You weren't playing football.

Questions:

Was I playing football?

Were you playing football?