Past Progressive Verbs/
Past Continuous Verbs

Past progressive verbs are also called past continuous verbs.

They show continuing action in the past.

Here are some examples:

The children were reading.

I was practicing the piano when you came.

What's a Progressive Verb?

Every single verb has three simple tenses and three perfect tenses.

Each of those tenses can be made into a progressive/continuous form.

Progressive verbs are not another verb tense, but are more like an extra form of each of the tenses.

They show that the verb is still happening.

Depending on whether you like to call them progressive or continuous, you can use these two ways to remember what they mean:

The action is continuing to happen, so it is a continuous verb.

The action is still in progress, so it is a progressive verb.

All progressive verbs are formed with a form of the verb be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being) and the verb's present participle.

Present participles are the forms of the verb that end in ing.

Forming Past Progressive

There is a very easy recipe for making these verb forms.

were/was+ present participle

The present participle is the form a the verb that ends in ing

were/was	+ Present Participle	Past Progressive
was	learning	I was learning.
were	learning	We were learning.
was	winning	Mark was winning.
were	winning	The boys were winning.
was	graduating	My sister was graduating.
were	graduating	The students were graduating.
was	practicing	The singer was practicing.
were	practicing	The choirs were practicing.

Was or Were?

Are you wondering when you should use was and when you should use were? That is an issue of subject-verb agreement.

Whenever you write a sentence, you need to make sure that the subject and the verb agree.

When you use a singular subject like boy, then you need to use the helping verb was.

*Singular means one.

The boy was reading the book.
When you use a plural subject like boys, then you need to use the helping verb were.

*Plural means more than one.

The boys were reading the book.
So, if you're not sure when to use was or were, just look at your subject and ask yourself, "Is it singular or plural?"

If you want to teach or learn grammar the easy way, then follow a step-by-step program that clearly lays everything out for you and allows you to move at your own pace. The Get Smart program is presented in a meaningful sequence, so it's not an overwhelming mishmash of information. Before you know it, you'll be a grammar and sentence diagramming pro!

The whole program is online, so you have instant access to these lessons and videos. It's easy and fun. You can get it at www.English-Grammar-Revolution.com/daily-diagrams.html

Keep learning and have fun!

Elizabeth O'Brien is the creator of the Grammar Revolution step-by-step grammar and sentence diagramming programs. Her programs are guaranteed not only to teach you grammar, but also to give you more confidence in your communication skills.

To get your free Parts of Speech guide and receive Elizabeth's bi-weekly articles on improving your grammar and having fun with sentence diagramming, enter your email address and name below right now.