Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Tense

It is used to denote an action continuing at a particular time or a particular period in the past.

 

           Past simple      Past cont.     Past simple

         ____I____________l__________l____

          I started        I was doing      I finished        

         7 a.m.                                        10: 00 a.m.

                     -----------------------------

       Examples:

     This time last year, I was living in Brazil.

      I waved to her but she wasn't looking.

       Past Continuous                 Past Simple                                       

(In the middle of                       (complete action)

an action).                          

(I was walking                         ( I walked home after  

Home when I                             party last night.)

Met  Dave.)                              ( All the way completely)                    

(In the middle  

Of  walking home)      

We often use past simple and past continuous together to say that something happened in the middle of something.

Examples

Tom burnt his hand when he was cooking the dinner

This tense  is also used with always and continually etc. for persistent actions or habit.

Examples:

He was always troubling his parents.

He was always ringing me up.

 

There are some verbs (know, want, believe) that are not normally used in the continuous tense.

Examples

We were good friends .We knew each other well.( not we were knowing)

Sentence structure:

Affirmative Sentences:

Subject+ was /were + V1+ ING + ob +o.w.

I

He         Was +V1 +ing + ob +o. w.

She

It

 

We

You   +were+ V1+ing +ob +o.w.

They

Pl.sub.

 

Examples

He was making a noise.

I was enjoying the party.

It was raining heavily.

The pilgrims were  going to Haridwar.

You were playing football.

David was going to school.

Negative sentences:

Subject + was /were + not +V 1 + ING + object + other words.

Examples

He was not playing cards.

She was not shivering with cold.

You were not giving a false witness.

The boys were not copying in the examination.

Interrogative sentences:

Was/were +sub+ V1 + ING + ob+ o. w.?

Examples:

 

Was he enjoying a sound sleep?

Was the monkey eating fruit?

Were they singing a song?