The past progressive tense is used to talk about:
- activities in progress at a specific time in the past:
“We were playing cards last night at midnight.” - repetition of some ongoing action in the past:
“I was sneezing all morning.” - a past activity that happens simultaneously with another:
“I was sleeping when he got home.”
The past progressive tense is formed in the same way as the present progressive, except the past tense of the verb “to be” is used.
“I was waiting for you at the station.”
“You were playing hockey last night, weren't you?”
“Was Darren fighting with his brother when you left?”
“We weren't expecting you so early.”
“The trees were bending in the wind.”