1. PAST PROGRESSIVE TO BE + Verb – ING
We use it to describe a longer activity, to give background to an event in the simple past.
(The event in simple past often ïnterrupts” the one in past progressive).
- She was waiting for the big wave when she saw the shark.
- What was she thinking when the shark attacked?
TO BE Verb – ING
Was / were
Exceptions when adding 'ing‘
silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come – coming (agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example: sit - sitting

2. Verb To Be + verb –ing Was / were + eating
PAST PROGRESSIVE
Affirmative
negative
question I
I was eating a pizza.
I wasn’t eating pizza.
Was I eating pizza?
he, she, it
He was eating a pizza.
He wasn’t eating pizza.
Was he eating pizza?
you, we, they
They were eating pizza.
They weren’t eating pizza.
Were they eating pizza?
Verb To Be + verb –ing Was / were + eating

3. affirmative negative question
Simple past
describe a completed event or a short action at a particular time in the past
affirmative
negative
question I
I ran a marathon.
I didn’t run a marathon.
Did you run a marathon?
he, she, it
He ran a marathon.
He didn’t run a marathon.
Did he run a marathon?
you, we, they
We ran a marathon.
You didn’t run a marathon.
Did we run a marathon?
Past progressive We use it to describe a longer activity
The event in simple past often “interrupts” the one in past progressive
Affirmative
negative
question I
I was eating a pizza.
I wasn’t eating pizza.
Was I eating pizza?
he, she, it
He was eating a pizza.
He wasn’t eating pizza.
Was he eating pizza?
you, we, they
They were eating pizza.
They weren’t eating pizza.
Were they eating pizza?