What is your main challenge with speaking English fluently?
A key sign of a fluent speaker is being able to express your complex thoughts using correct grammar.
Listen in today as Lindsay and Aubrey share tips on using the past progressive correctly in English.
What were you doing?
Aubrey asks Lindsay what she was doing before they started recording.
Lindsay responds that she was catching up on emails at the start of her day.
This would likely be a common answer for many people.
It’s amazing how email can take over your day.
Lindsay then asks Aubrey the same question.
Aubrey responds that she did a Peloton ride that morning.
She shares that it is fun to do live rides but she also joins prerecorded classes.
This conversation included past progressive grammar structures.
This is the continuation of a two-part series about past progressive, often called past continuous.
Past progressive sentence structure
The past progressive tense is used for interrupted actions or simultaneous actions.
Lindsay and Aubrey dive into these two ways to use past progressive tense with examples.
#1: When I was doing something, something else happened.
The first part of the sentence is an adverb clause, and the second part is an independent clause.
The structure looks like this:
while/when + subject + past progressive [was/were + verb-ing] + subject + past simple verb
Example:
- When I was eating breakfast, I spilled my orange juice.
- While I was fixing the car, she handed me tools and kept me company.
It’s important to note that you should always use a comma after an adverb clause when it comes at the beginning of a sentence.
This is because an adverb clause that starts a sentence is considered an introductory element and requires a comma to separate it from the main clause.
#2: I did something while something else was happening.
The first part of the sentence is an independent clause, and the second part is an adverb clause.
The structure looks like this:
subject + past simple verb + while/when + subject + past progressive [was/were + verb-ing]
With this flipped structure, no comma is needed.
Example:
- You called me when I was shopping.
- He got home while I was making dinner.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Aubrey using the vocabulary and tips shared in today’s episode.
This will help you better understand what you learned today in an English conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Aubrey are classmates and Aubrey missed class last week.
Lindsay: Where were you last week?
Aubrey: I went to the beach. It was amazing.
Lindsay: What?! I was stuck in class while you were playing at the beach?!
Aubrey: I’m sorry! Actually, though… Can I get your notes?
Lindsay: Seriously?!
Aubrey: I’ll owe you one! When I was hanging out on the sand, I thought ‘I hope Lindsay is taking notes so I can get them from her.’
Lindsay: I bet! Well, I have to miss class later this month so be sure to take copious notes to share with me.
Takeaway
English grammar structures can be confusing.
Past progressive is used to emphasize the duration of a past action.
It is used for interrupted or simultaneous actions.
Being aware of grammar structures like past progressive tense can improve fluency and clarity in English communication.
You don’t want to use choppy sentences that won’t convey your thoughts properly.
Check out Part 1 of the series: AEE 2360: Your Grammar Questions Answered: Past Simple or Past Progressive?
In it, you will learn additional grammar rules to master past progressive verb tense.
What are other grammar structures do you want to learn more about?
Let us know in the comments below.
