Past progressive

Form (+) I/he/she/it was working
You/we/they were working
(-) I/he/she/it was not working
You/we/they were not working
(?) Was I/he/she/it working?
Were you/we/they working?
Uses
1. Emphasising the duration or continuity of a past event
He was working on the report all day long.
2.Describing a background event
I was just leaving the office when he arrived.
3. For repeated events
I was visiting clients all last week and didn’t come into office.
4.Making polite requests
I was wondering if you could give me a lift downtown.
5.For events planned in the past which did not take place
She was going to phone them yesterday but didn’t have the time.
Exercise
Complete the dialogues by putting the verbs in past continuous
1. A. Your meeting went on for a long time this morning.
B. Yes, …(we/try) to decide whether we need to cut the marketing budget.
2. A. Well. What do you think?
B. Sorry, … (i/not/listen). Can you repeat what you said?
3. A. I called you several times yesterday afternoon, but I only got your voicemail.
What … (do/you)?
B. …. (i/discuss) the strategic plan with Angela and Jaroslav.