11.4 Uses of Past Progressive 1) an action in progress at a definite point or period of past time 2) a past habitual action 3) futurity in the past 4) polite requests and hypothetical meanings 5) Contrast between past progressive and simple past

1) To Denote an Action in Progress at a Definite Point or Period of Past Time What were you doing yesterday at seven p.m.? They were building a dam last winter. the past time reference is usually indicated by a temporal adverbial or implied by the context. the notion of incompleteness is more clearly indicated than in the present progressive The students were still laughing when the teacher stepped in. as the background in past time narrative

2) To denote a past habitual action temporariness George was getting up at five every day that week. My brother was always losing his keys. always constantly continually forever 2. adverbial of frequency 1. e specially feelings of annoyance or disapproval Emotional F eelings:

3) To Denote Futurity in the Past 1. according to a definite plan or arrangement 2. found in adverbial clauses of time or condition They were leaving a few days later. He told me to wake him up if he was sleeping. He told me yesterday to wake him up if he was sleeping. But I totally forgot about the whole thing. And that may be the reason why he failed in the exam.

4) To Make Polite Requests and Express Hypothetical Meanings the most tentative way in making polite requests. a) Polite Requests : I hope you can send me some books. I hoped that you could send me some books. I am hoping you can send me some books. I was hoping you could send me some books. most polite 1. only occurs in certain conditional clauses 2. in sub clauses after I wish / I’d rather / it’s time I wish they were not talking so loudly. I’d rather you were going at once. b) Hypothetical Meanings :

5) Contrast Between Past Progressive and Simple Past Simple PastPast Progressive an action in completion an action in progressive a mere past fact emphasis on the duration when two actions co-occur in a sentence shorter durationlonger duration I broke a glass while I was cooking the dinner.

d) in colloquial speech past progressive  casual, unimportant and aimless, simple past  can be formal / intent I was talking to Margaret the other day. When we arrived, she was making some fresh coffee. When we arrived she made some fresh coffee. e) Compare the time sequence of the two actions in the following sentences: I talked to Margaret the other day.