Fun Grammar Lessons

Past Progressive
1 Grammar Notes 2

2 Fill in the Blanks 4

3 Complete the Sentences 5

4 Multiple-Choice 6

5 Pair Work 7

6 Writing 9

7 Class Survey 10

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 1
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

1 Grammar Notes
A. Intro
For a short past action, use the simple past.
• I walked my dog last night.

For a long past action, use

the simple past or the past progressive.
• I talked to my friend last night.
• I was talking to my friend last night.

B. Form

Past Progressive
past Be verb + -ing verb

Examples:

• I was skiing.
• My brother was studying.
• We were swimming.
• Children were playing.

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 2
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

1 Grammar Notes cont.

C. Uses

Use 1 Use 2 Use 3

6:30 pm 7:30 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 pm 6:30 pm 7:15 pm

He was cooking.
Diagram We were playing
soccer last night. I was
reading.
She was watching TV. The
power
went out.

to show a long past

to emphasize to show two
Use action interrupted by
a long past action long past actions
a short past action*

• He was cooking while
• We were playing • I was reading when
she was watching TV.
soccer last night. the power went out.
Examples • My classmates were
• The girl was petting  • When the phone rang,
working while I
her cat for an hour. he was taking a bath.
was daydreaming.

*Note:
Use the past progressive for the long action.
Use the simple past for the short action.
Common short actions include rang, called, hit, arrived, came, landed, and went out.

• He was sleeping when his friend called.

• When his friend called, he was sleeping.

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 3
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

2 Fill in the Blanks

Look at the verb under each line.
Write the past progressive form.

Ex was setting
Sam was making dinner while Julie             the table.
(set)

1 My brother was playing video games while my sister             .

(study)

2 I was talking on the phone while you             .

(drive)

3 Mr. Jones was watching a movie while Mrs. Jones             .

(sleep)

4 The students were taking notes while their classmate             a presentation.
(give)

5 The children were playing in the yard while their father             the lawn.
(mow)

6 We were dancing while they             .

(sing)

7 My sister and I             baseball while our grandmother was knitting.

(play)

8 The teacher             while I was daydreaming.

(talk)

9 My friends were hanging out at the park while I             my room.

(clean)

10 You             your friend while I was waiting for you.

(text)

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 4
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

3 Complete the Sentences

Look at the images.
Complete each sentence using a past progressive verb.

Ex was riding a bicycle

She                      .

1 He                      .

2 My parents                      .

3 The girl                      .

4 They                      .

5 My father                      .

6 You                      .

7 I                      .

8 We                      .

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 5
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

4 Multiple-Choice
Choose the correct answer.

Ex We were watching TV 5 I wasn’t paying attention

when the power     . when I     the car.

a)  were going out a)  was crashing

b)  went out b) crashed

1 They were still cooking when we     . 6 Snow     when the plane landed.

a)  were arriving a)  was falling

b) arrived b) fell

2 She     a bath when 7 When the power     ,

the earthquake started. the students were taking a test.

a)  was taking a)  was going out

b) took b)  went out

3 The boy was riding his bicycle 8 When you finished your homework,
when he     a tree. I     mine.

a)  was hitting a)  was still doing

b) hit b)  still did

4 I was sleeping when my sister     . 9 I     at 10:00 pm.

a)  was calling a)  was still studying

b) called b)  still studied

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 6
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

5 Pair Work (Student A)

Look at Kate and Brad’s schedules from yesterday.
Ask your partner for the missing information and draw the
missing images. Then work together to answer the questions.

7:00 am 10:00 am 2:00 pm 6:00 pm 9:00 pm

Kate

Brad

1 What was Brad doing at 10:00 am yesterday?

2 What was Kate doing at 6:00 pm?

3 Was Kate eating lunch while Brad was working out?

4 What was Kate doing at 7:00 am? What was Brad doing?

5 What activity were they both doing at the same time?

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 7
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

5 Pair Work (Student B)

Look at Kate and Brad’s schedules from yesterday.
Ask your partner for the missing information and draw the
missing images. Then work together to answer the questions.

7:00 am 10:00 am 2:00 pm 6:00 pm 9:00 pm

Kate

Brad

1 What was Brad doing at 10:00 am yesterday?

2 What was Kate doing at 6:00 pm?

3 Was Kate eating lunch while Brad was working out?

4 What was Kate doing at 7:00 am? What was Brad doing?

5 What activity were they both doing at the same time?

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 8
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

6 Writing
Emergency!
Example:
Write a paragraph about a
Last night, I was watching a movie at home with
real or made-up emergency my brother. I was eating popcorn and having a
that happened in your past. good time when suddenly the power went out.
I got nervous because I needed to study for a
test after the movie, and I didn’t know where my
flashlight was. My brother and I were hunting
around in the dark for a flashlight…

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 9
 Past Progressive
Fun Grammar Lessons

7 Class Survey
What were your classmates doing yesterday?
Write their answers in the chart below.

My Classmates 9:00 am 2:00 pm 6:00 pm 10:00 pm

Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (VERSION 1.0) 10