Past Progressive - Grammar & Verb Tenses

Learn all about the past progressive verb tense in this Ellii grammar video! Our clear explanation will help you understand when and why to use this tense in no time. The difference between the past progressive and the simple past is also covered. This video includes a practice exercise at the end. Happy studying!
#LearnEnglish #ESL #English #Ellii #Grammar #Verbs #Past
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:18 Form
1:56 Function
3:11 Clauses & Sentence Position
4:30 Practice

[@annelise1412]

Man, this channel has saved me from A LOT of exams, I love this channel

[@ellii]

Happy to help! Glad you're enjoying our content! 😄

[@javedsayed1234]

Brilliant illustrations and examples. Thank you for quizzing in the end. I was searching for this topic to teach my lil one and now I have subscribed to your channel. Please keep up the good work!

[@ellii]

Thanks for such a great compliment!

[@Senpai-zi1mc]

Thank you so much for this high quality, please upload more videos they are really useful❤

[@ellii]

You're welcome! We have new videos coming out every week. Hope you enjoy them!

[@loravimont]

Very well explained with great examples & practice questions. Thank you!

[@ellii]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching. We also have a new video on the Future Progressive coming out in November!

[@RolitaTorron]

I passed all my assignment because of your beautiful video's.

[@ellii]

Good job! 👏

[@saritaprajapat534]

Tomorrow is my exam and by this video my all doubts are clear 😊 I have watched lots of videos before this and this is the best

[@ellii]

Thanks for that great compliment! Good luck on your exam!

[@saritaprajapat534]

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[@HoaVo-gw1oh]

@@saritaprajapat534

[@BelkisPavon-02]

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[@ellii]

We're so happy that our videos are helping you! Happy studying 😊

[@med.sa3idbeidat631]

Explanation Top
Thank you from my heart🎉

[@ellii]

Glad you liked it! Thanks so much.

[@uzbektilidakino]

Thank you so much for this!

[@ellii]

Glad it was helpful!

[@artslime4627]

Very useful. Very nicely explained. Thank you

[@ellii]

We're happy to hear that!

[@kamalcell2587]

Thank you for these amazing videos!

[@ellii]

Glad you like them!

[@NegasZero1]

Thank you so much for this! It was a useful video for my students!

[@ellii]

We're glad it helped them understand this verb tense!

[@injungsong9002]

These videos are amazing!❤

[@ellii]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@Larusii]

Thanks again a lot ELLII 😍😍🎶🎶😁😁☺☺😘😘

[@ellii]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching ❤️

[@jeonlixq]

Thank you for the video

[@ellii]

Good luck on your exam!

[@dakshita1253]

Thank you so much 👍😊
For ur help

[@ellii]

Anytime! 😊

[@keikanaka3924]

this helped me alot, thanks so much Elli!!

[@ellii]

Glad it helped!

[@keikanaka3924]

@@ellii tommorow is my last exam wish me goodluck!

[@ellii]

@@keikanaka3924 Best of luck!! You got this!

[@hamonalii7912]

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[@ellii]

Thanks a lot!

[@vicentetomascastrocorvalan2136]

thank you

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[@ellii]

You're welcome 😊

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I like that

[@yagmurkilicwww]

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This chanel help me with my exam,Thank you

[@ellii]

We're happy to hear that!

[@user-bp8ye6wv9b]

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[@ellii]

You're welcome!

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[@ellii]

Wow, congrats!! 🎉🎉

[@BLUEACCOUNTS]

very good video thanks
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[@ellii]

Thanks for watching!

[@galinazivoluba4454]

Thank you so much for such clear explanations

[@ellii]

You're welcome, Galina! We're glad it helped.

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[@ellii]

That's great to hear!

[@venkakarajendraprasadpynen5988]

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[@ellii]

We're so glad to hear that!

[@user-nf7oj2tj5r]

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[@ellii]

You're very welcome!

[@user-ek5mk8fl9c]

Thank you so much for this video! It was a useful video and so helpful for my students!

[@ellii]

We're glad it helped your students! Thanks for letting us know.

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[@ellii]

We're so glad!

[@Senpai-zi1mc]

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[@ellii]

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Thank❤

[@ellii]

You're very welcome! 😊

[@asiangolfbogey]

Keep it up

[@unstablevessel]

i like this

[@gouriyadav7950]

I was making the notes while you are teaching

[@ellii]

Great idea! Taking notes helps me study too.

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That's what I need to use in the paper

[@user-no5qh2me1p]

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[@ellii]

Glad you think so!

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[@ellii]

That's great to hear! Thanks for being a subscriber ❤️

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[@ellii]

Excellent!

[@Jons_1707]

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[@ellii]

You're welcome, Akbar!

[@travisking6595]

Fomkah didn’t swipe the friendship bracelets!
Boots’ boot was floating away.

[@oviedo019]

thank you so much for the video

[@ellii]

You're welcome, Francisco!

[@user-yz4mv3ly2s]

3:54

[@user-qq7fw5nl7l]

❤

[@injungsong9002]

Please add more sound affects.❤❤

[@ellii]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@KerimaButika]

Nice❤❤

[@KerimaButika]

The different between while and when

[@ellii]

Thanks 🤗

[@Itsmealgorithm]

While I was making dinner,my phone fell in the water

[@vichotimothy1436]

While i was walking on the pier,i fell to the water

[@nabilkmael8851]

But while used in 2 long actions...is thar right?

[@ellii]

@@vichotimothy1436 Great example! The correct preposition is "into": While I was walking on the pier, I fell into the water.

[@ellii]

@@nabilkmael8851 "While" is most common with two long actions, but it is correct to use it for a long action that gets interrupted by a short action too.

[@JesonKamanda]

Skill issue (jk)

[@fugmaplays9190]

Thank you so much , tomorrow I've an exam and whenever I've exam I watch your videos

[@ellii]

That's a great way to use these videos. Best of luck on your exam!

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My brain is now braining

[@ellii]

Haha perfect

[@YALLA_KORA714]

ellii thx so much my mr made me a pop quiz and that helped i got 14\15

[@ellii]

Great score!

[@BACON_LORD0519]

Thank you you are the best

[@ellii]

Thanks a lot!

[@helenshao2230]

That’s so much helpful

[@ellii]

We're happy our video helped you, Helen!

[@nanarabaa1670]

I was studying when the door rang

[@ellii]

Great example! Note that we would say "doorbell" not "door." (I was studying when the doorbell rang.)

[@user-ld7tj2jk5v]

I liked 🎀

[@ellii]

That's great to hear!

[@helenaracayo1467]

Hello: I have a question:
What is the difference "walk out" and "leave"? I hope you reply as soon as possible. Thanks a lot

[@ellii]

Hi! "Leave" can be used in any situation when you exit a place. "Walk out" usually implies that you're leaving during an unfinished event. E.g., I walked out of the movie because it was so boring.

[@helenaracayo1467]

​@@elliithank you so much!!!

[@najatshoaib6595]

Thank you very much

[@ellii]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-ce5eb1iv1u]

thanks for the lesson

[@ellii]

Thanks for watching!

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Bring back ESL library

[@ellii]

We're still the same company, only with a new name! Here's the reason for our name change: czcams.com/video/diY5qRBbBrQ/video.htmlsi=bXtv1JD3yB-WKvYx

[@LukaAvramovic-gj2en]

Thanks bro

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[@ellii]

What a nice compliment! Thank you!

[@speedygamz]

thaks for giving us information
kind regars
speedygames

[@ellii]

It's our pleasure!

[@ahmadnaja6405]

​@@elliihi Elliis thanks for giving us information but what is this question use the examples above to reexplain the grammatical rule to your colleagues who are still confused. Ask your colleagues to give two more examples to further illustrate each case pls help me

[@ellii]

@@ahmadnaja6405 They're asking you to explain the rules of how to form the past progressive in your own words (summarize/restate the rules). They want you to explain both cases (a long action interrupted by a short one and two long actions). Then you need to ask your colleagues to make up two more example sentences using the rule. Sounds like you'll be teaching, so be prepared with some example sentences of your own that you can use if your colleagues are stuck and can't think of anything. You could also give half the sentence and have them come up with the rest (e.g., "I was watching TV when/while..."). Hope that helps!

[@BACON_LORD0519]

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[@ellii]

Thank you! ❤️

[@bungeegum5628]

I was laying on my bed, while listening to this video😁

[@ellii]

Great example! Here are two quick corrections: 1) You don't need a comma before "while" and 2) the correct verb is "lying." Here's a trick for lay vs. lie: If there's no direct object, use lie/lying. If there is, use lay/laying. This blog post has more info and examples: ellii.com/blog/lay-vs-lie-lets-lay-this-matter-to-rest

[@khadiyighasham3499]

Very useful video😊

[@ellii]

Thanks a lot!

[@Lunaaaxx84]

This video is very useful the day before my exam
I am sure after watching this video i will get a 20 out of 20😊🎉

[@ellii]

Good luck! We hope you get 20/20

[@Dev_Blox_770]

Such cute characters

[@ellii]

Thank you! I'll let our illustrators know you like them.

[@marzhan_zeynep]

[@ellii]

Hi!

[@JamaniTJohnson]

I was sleeping on my bed for two hours yesterday afternoon.

[@ellii]

Great example!

[@antoniohernandezcarballo4778]

I was playing soccer when she comes

[@ellii]

Almost! Your second verb needs to be in the simple past tense. You can use came, arrived, got there, etc.

[@Cxrrupted_meldi_]

They were singing in the car while he was driving

[@ellii]

Great example sentence! Well done!

[@travisking6595]

Someone sat on my chair!

[@Itsmealgorithm]

While I was running, my sister was counting rounds

[@Itsmealgorithm]

My father was watching news while I was making dinner

[@prakashmohite7681]

I was washing dishes when my phone ranges

[@ellii]

Great example! The past tense of "ring" is "rang" so the sentence is "I was washing the dishes when my phone rang."

[@Lamaraoudlakam]

I watched your vedios and i be an powerful boy in this simple past😂

[@ellii]

That's just what we hoped would happen, Abdalah!

[@user-hl5sl7vc5b]

I was doing my assignment when my mother called me. Or,
My mother called me while i was doing my assignment.

[@ellii]

Excellent examples! Don't forget to capitalize "I" in the second sentence. 😉

[@YT_fikhan]

1. You are Reading
2. She is Singing
Tell me please sir 🙏

[@ellii]

Those examples are in the present progressive tense. The past progressive would be "You were reading" and "She was singing."

[@YT_fikhan]

@@ellii thank you

[@antoniamamic1534]

😍😍😍😍😍

[@ahankandy6166]

Ya'll saved me from F-.

[@Justagirlxo_]

It started to rain when she was walking to school? It doesn’t make sense to me.. It’s not what my teacher thought me.. isn’t that supposed to be It started to rain when she walked to school?

[@ellii]

"Started to rain" is a short action and "was walking" is long, so the past progressive is best. Maybe you're thinking of two long actions? You can say "It was raining while she was walking to school" (two past progressive verbs) or "It rained while she walked to school" (two simple past verbs). Hope that helps!

[@Justagirlxo_]

@@ellii idk, English is not my first language but my teacher thought me they after when there’s always gonna be past simple, and after a while there’s always gonna be past progressives
Sometimes I don’t know where to put progressives and where to put simple..

[@ellii]

@@Justagirlxo_ Yeah it's a bit tricky. Just remember that the simple past is a good choice 99% of the time. The only time that the past progressive is really common and necessary is when a short action (simple past) interrupts a long action (past progressive).

[@Justagirlxo_]

@@ellii ok, I have a test tomorrow! Let’s hope it will be ok. Thank u 🙏🏼🖤

[@Justagirlxo_]

@@ellii thank u for the help! I got 100 on the test( I think it’s A+ in most of the countries)

[@Marvels3130]

How we know that the first verb before and after when will be progressive or non progressive

[@ellii]

Time markers and other verbs in the sentence help a lot! Try to figure out the context (= the situation when the action is happening). Also look for certain auxiliary verbs. For example, the Be verb (am, is, are, was, were, will be) is often followed by an -ing verb. The verb Have (have, has, had, will have) is often followed by a past participle form.

[@user-ym1jr8lf4z]

👍

[@LarissaRodrigues-bg4sx]

I think i we have a 10 in notes

[@ellii]

Thanks, Larissa!

[@user-vd1se8cu7l]

hello

[@ellii]

Hi there!

[@mamadwali4278]

Ohhh no, this is the last grammar in this channel 😢

[@ellii]

Hi! We're planning on making more grammar videos. Also, we have a new grammar series called "Grammar Tips." Find the playlist here: czcams.com/play/PL0MvnNQjMzmYF0vNbBs_3p0rO13qhgv_N.html

[@felipecifuentesprieto6601]

they singing in the car while he driving

[@ellii]

That's a good example, Felipe, but don't forget the Be verb! The correct sentence is: They are singing in the car while he is driving.

[@meltemkuran951]

2.35 it’s written “ it started to rain when she was walking to school.” Instead of ‘when’ it should be ‘while’ as a meaning when it is not fit. Is there a mistake?

[@meltemkuran951]

While she was walking to school, it started to rain.
When it started to rain, she was walking to school.

[@ellii]

Good question! You're correct that "while" is more common before a past progressive verb and "when" is more common before a simple past verb, but it is possible to use "when" in front of a past progressive verb too. These are all correct and have the same meaning:
- It started to rain when she was walking to school.
- It started to rain while she was walking to school.
- She was walking to school when it started to rain.
The only one that's not possible is "She was walking to school while it started to rain." Hope that clears things up!

[@user-ex2gk7om5h]

1:10 - 1:54

[@user-pd1ft3qs1d]

I was watching this video while my mom was sleeping. 😂

[@ellii]

Great example! 😉

[@user-ul8sv5ql8t]

Best luck

[@user-ul8sv5ql8t]

Great example

[@Itsmealgorithm]

While I was learning English, my phone rang

[@kinooo9025]

I was learning English when my phone rang.
When my phone rang, I was learning English.

[@shahrzadadel7495]

🎉

[@Omarox8]

I was eating the sandwich

[@ellii]

Good past progressive sentence! Remember to use "a" instead of "the" if both the speaker and listener can't see the sandwich (or don't know which sandwich you're talking about). "I was eating a sandwich" sounds more natural. Here's our video on articles in case it helps: czcams.com/video/RDkx4J__-QY/video.htmlsi=i3DlTQNiLdUy86wT

[@user-ws5di9cq9e]

I was playing computer games when my mother threw my keyboard.

[@ellii]

Great example sentence, but we hope it's not true! 😂