Englisch

Feature

Past Progressive

Simple Past

How to form it

,,be“ in simple past was / were + verb-ing

verb-ed or irregular simple past form

Examples

- Yesterday at 2pm I was cleaning the kitchen.
- They were having a picnic when a dog ran into the park.

- We watched the new film last night.
- They were having a picnic when a dog ran into the park.

When to use it

- For actions happening at a specific time in the past
- For longer actions that are interrupted by other actions

- For completed actions in the past
- For shorter actions that interrupt other longer actions

Signal Words

  • Past Progressive: while, at 8pm yesterday

  • Simple Past: when, yesterday

Interrupted Actions in the Past

  • Past Progressive: Used for the longer, ongoing action

  • Simple Past: Used for the shorter, interrupting action

Examples:

  • While I was studying, it rained.

  • I was studying when it rained.


  • buzzed: summen, vibrieren

  • squawky: kreischend, krächzend

  • necessary: notwendig, erforderlich

  • posh area: vornehmes Viertel

  • lend: leihen

  • chandeliers: Kronleuchter

  • ceiling: Decke

  • Lebanese restaurant: libanesisches Restaurant

  • hesitated: zögern, zögerte

  • stomach: Magen, Bauch

  • intercept: abfangen

  • treat: Genuss, Belohnung / behandeln

  • sorrow: Kummer, Trauer

  • below: unter

  • remark: anmerken, Bemerkung

  • suddenly: plötzlich, auf einmal