Progressive tense shows ongoing action. With past progressive tense, the ongoing action happens in the past – any time before right now.
We use two helping verbs – was and were – to show past progressive tense. We also add -ing to the end of the action word. Look at these examples of past progressive verbs:
I was walking in the park yesterday.
He was walking in the park yesterday.
You were walking in the park yesterday.
We were walking in the park yesterday.
Here are more sentences with past progressive verbs:
Mom was working in the yard.
Dad was driving us to swim practice.
I was hoping we could buy some ice cream.
Sam was waiting for us.
We were singing a song.
The boys were playing a game.
A past progressive verb shows ongoing action that happened before now. We use helping verbs was and were to show past progressive tense, and we add -ing to the end of the action verb.