The Past Continuous Tense
Form
The past continuous tense is formed by the past tense of the auxiliary verb to be + the present participle:
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I was working I was not working was I working?
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:
· I was watching TV when she called.
· When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
· While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples:
· Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
· At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
· Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
· Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner. I started eating at 6 PM.
· Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples:
· I was studying while he was making dinner.
· While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
· Were you listening while he was talking?
USE 4 Atmosphere
In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
Example:
· When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.
USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
· She was always coming to class late.
· He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
· I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
USE 6 We use the continuous tense in descriptions.
Note the combination of description (past continuous) with narrative (simple past):
A wood fire was burning on the hearth, and a cat was sleeping in front of it. A girl was playing the piano and (was) singing softly to herself. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. The girl stopped playing. The cat woke up.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.
Examples:
· Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
· Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
· You were just studying when she called.
· Were you just studying when she called?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE: WAS/WERE + BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE
Examples:
· The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Active
· The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Passive
Exercises: https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs4.htm
The past continuous tense is formed by the past tense of the auxiliary verb to be + the present participle:
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I was working I was not working was I working?
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:
· I was watching TV when she called.
· When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
· While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples:
· Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
· At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
· Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
· Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner. I started eating at 6 PM.
· Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples:
· I was studying while he was making dinner.
· While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
· Were you listening while he was talking?
USE 4 Atmosphere
In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
Example:
· When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.
USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
· She was always coming to class late.
· He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
· I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
USE 6 We use the continuous tense in descriptions.
Note the combination of description (past continuous) with narrative (simple past):
A wood fire was burning on the hearth, and a cat was sleeping in front of it. A girl was playing the piano and (was) singing softly to herself. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. The girl stopped playing. The cat woke up.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.
Examples:
· Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
· Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
· You were just studying when she called.
· Were you just studying when she called?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE: WAS/WERE + BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE
Examples:
· The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Active
· The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Passive
More:
Exercises: https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs4.htm
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