Write these sentences in the passive voice.

The past progressive tense (also known as the past continuous tense) is used to describe actions or events that were ongoing at a specific point in the past. It emphasizes that the action was in progress at a particular time or during a specific period.

Structure:

The past progressive is formed using:

was/were (the past tense of “to be”) + the present participle (base verb + -ing).

Examples:

I was reading a book when the phone rang.
(An action in progress when another action occurred.)
They were playing soccer all afternoon.
(An action continuing over a period in the past.)
She was studying at 9 PM last night.
(An action happening at a specific point in the past.)

Common Uses:

Interrupted actions:

When one action was happening and another action interrupted it.
I was cooking dinner when he arrived.

Parallel actions:

When two or more actions were happening at the same time.
While I was reading, they were playing a game.

Background information:

To describe the background of a story or set the scene.
It was raining when the match started.

Gradual change or development:

To show that something was gradually happening or changing.
The weather was getting colder as the night progressed.
It conveys a sense of something happening at a particular moment in the past without being completed at that time.

using progressive verbs with always to complain

Using progressive verbs with “always” (or similar frequency adverbs like “constantly,” “forever,” etc.) can express annoyance or complaint about repeated actions or behaviors. In this structure, the present progressive or past progressive tense is used to show that the action is habitual and frustrating.

Structure:

was/were + always + verb (-ing)
am/is/are + always + verb (-ing)

Examples:

Present Progressive (to complain about something habitual in the present):

He’s always leaving the door open. (This suggests irritation that this action happens repeatedly.)
They’re constantly talking during the movie.
Past Progressive (to complain about something that used to happen regularly in the past):

She was always borrowing my things without asking.
They were forever arguing when they lived together.

Why It Expresses Annoyance:

Using the progressive tense with “always” or similar adverbs in this way emphasizes that the action happens repeatedly and is perceived as excessive or undesirable. The combination gives the sense that the speaker finds the behavior disruptive or irritating.

More Examples:

You’re always interrupting me when I’m speaking! (current frustration)
He was constantly losing his keys when we lived together. (past frustration)
She’s forever complaining about her job.
This usage adds emotional weight to the statement, turning what could be a neutral observation into a complaint.

using expressions of place with progressive verbs

Using expressions of place with progressive verbs helps provide context about where an action is happening while emphasizing that the action is ongoing. This combination is common when describing actions in progress at specific locations, whether in the present progressive (for current actions) or the past progressive (for actions that were happening at a particular place in the past).

Structure:

[subject] + am/is/are/were/was + verb (-ing) + place expression

Examples:

Present Progressive (describing actions happening at specific places right now):

She is sitting in the garden.
They are playing soccer at the park.
I am waiting for you at the bus stop.
Past Progressive (describing actions that were happening in specific places in the past):

He was reading a book in his room.
We were studying at the library all afternoon.
They were dancing at the party when we arrived.
Common Place Expressions:
Prepositional phrases: at, in, on, near, around, etc.

She is working in the kitchen.
They were walking around the city.
I am waiting at the corner.
Location-specific nouns: home, school, the office, the park, etc.

He is eating at the café.
They were staying in a hotel.
Directions: upstairs, outside, inside, downtown, etc.

They are talking outside.
I was walking down the street when it started raining.

Examples of Place Expressions in Questions:

Where are you sitting?
What were they doing in the park?
These expressions help provide a clearer picture of the ongoing activity by situating it in a particular place, making the description more vivid and specific.