Past Progresive The PAST PROGRESSIVE tense indicates continuing action, something that was happening, going on, at some point in the past. This tense is formed with the helping "to be" verb, in the past tense, plus the present participle of the verb (with an -ing ending) Positive Negative Question I / he / she / it I was speaking. I was not speaking. Was I speaking? you / we / they You were speaking. You were not speaking. Were you speaking? USE OF PAST PROGRESSIVE § puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past Example: He was playing football. § two actions happening at the same time (in the past) Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes. § action going on at a certain time in the past Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang .