Past continuous tense examples. Past Continuous Tense

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In this article we will look at the past continuous tense in English language. We call all past tenses in English Past Tenses, the difference of which lies only in their duration or quality: whether it will be a simple past - Past Simple, a long past - Past Continuous or a past perfect - Past Perfect. In this article we will stop and look at Past Continuous Tense.

Past Continuous is a tense used to describe a continuous action in the past. Basically it is a process that lasted at a certain point or period in the past. The moment of action must be clearly defined or understandable in the context of the sentence.

Formation of affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous Tense

When I came to London, it was raining. It was raining when I arrived in London. Martin was studying history from three till eight o’clock. From three to eight o'clock Martin studied history. Lisa was cooking the pancakes, when I entered the kitchen. Lisa was preparing pancakes when I entered the kitchen.

Examples of negative sentences in the past continuous tense

He wasn't sleeping all the night. He didn't sleep all night. They weren't having a class at this time yesterday Yesterday we didn't have a lesson at this time. Last year she wasn't eating fat food as she was on diet. Last year she didn't eat fatty foods because she was on a diet.

Examples of affirmative sentences in the past continuous tense

Was Kate listening to the professor at the lecture? Did Kate listen to the professor during the lecture? How long were they traveling round Russia? How long did they travel around Russia? What kind of music was George playing when I entered the room? What music was George playing when I walked into the room? What were you doing at five o’clock? I was searching the web. What were you doing at five o'clock? I was surfing the Internet.

Using the Past Continuous Tense

Time Indicators

All the time all the time all day long all day at seven o’clock yesterday at seven o’clock the whole Friday during the film from three till eight o’clock from three to eight o’clock

Examples of using sentences in the Past Continuous Tense

I was reading an interesting article at 6 pm yesterday evening. I was reading an interesting article at 6pm yesterday. My parents were staying in Rome for three months. My parents stayed in Rome for three months. We went to the country. The sun was shining, the birds were singing. We left for the countryside. The sun was shining, the birds were singing.

Watch video on Past Continuous tense

Knowledge of English is nowadays almost a vital necessity. Children are introduced to its basics from a very early age, and a diligent student high school and is completely able to express himself fluently in English. Like any other language, it has its own characteristics, which should be given a lot of attention.

According to those who began studying as adults, one of the the most complex features of this language are the times. English speech involves dividing all situations according to the time when they occurred, are occurring or will occur relative to at this moment. Sometimes it is difficult for beginners to immediately master this topic, but diligence, attention to theory and active practice will help you adapt quickly.

One of the most curious times – Past Continuous Tense

It is past tense, but continuous. That is, they use it not just wanting to present the listener with a fact (for example, “Olya cooked dinner yesterday”), but with the goal of describing it, indicating its duration (for example, “Olya cooked dinner yesterday: she baked a turkey and made a cake "). But how do you construct such sentences in English?

How is the Past Continuous formed?

Was and Were in Past Continuous

In order to create a sentence using this tense, it is necessary to use the second form of the verb “to be”, that is - was(if we are talking about the singular) or – were(if there are several subjects of conversation). In addition, the verb used in speech takes on the ending “ing”

The proposal itself, depending on its form, will be structured as follows:

• Affirmative: singular (I/ he/ she/ it) + was…;

plural (we/ you/ they) + were…

• Negative: (I/he/she/it) + was not (wasn’t)…;

(we/you/they) + were not (weren’t)…

• Interrogative: was I/he/she/it… ?

were we/you/they… ?

IN negative sentences can be used as a complete form was not and were not, so and abbreviated. The second, by the way, is more common, while the full one is used extremely rarely, mainly in official speech.

When to use Past Continuous

There are three main cases when in the process of narration one should turn to this particular time.

• If the described continuous action occurred over some unknown period of time, at some point in the past. That is, there is no clear data on how many minutes or hours the action lasted, but the very fact of its duration is important for the further course of the conversation.

I was walking at 18:00 yesterday.

• If it lasted while some other action occurred. That is, one of the events described was already ongoing at a certain moment, but suddenly another event began, inextricably linked with the first.

When Jenny came home, Kate was sleeping.

• If several actions in the past occurred during the same period of time. It is not known whether they began at the same time, or whether the second connected at some point to the first. The fact is that both of them are equal and have same value during conversation.

While Tony was cooking, Ann was reading a book.

What is noteworthy is that in the latter case the words while or when are always used, which will be discussed in more detail below.

But there is another type of situation when you have to resort to the Past Continuous. These are discussions about plans for the future that took place in the past.

In order to say, for example, that Amy was planning how she would be reading a book on the beach.

The beginning of the sentence is a familiar construction, composed according to Past rules Continuous, the second part of it begins with the words “would be” (in negative form– wouldn’t be), followed by a verb that certainly ends in “ing”.

Thus, combining within one sentence, two tenses are able to recreate the picture in its entirety, taking into account all the nuances.

What is the difference between Past Continuous and Past Simple

In order to operate with proper ease with verb forms, building smart proposal, you need to have a clear understanding of in what cases this or that tense is used.

• Past Simple differs primarily in the completeness of thought.
• Past Continuous emphasizes the duration of the action.

That is, if you need to notify a fact, make the listener aware, Simple is used, and when you need to tell more about an event, then Continuous is used. Here, for example, is the sentence: “Mary did her homework yesterday.” And - another, similar at first glance: “Mary did her homework yesterday.”

But the first must be framed in the Past Simple, and the second in the Past Continuous, due to the indicated duration of the action: “Mary was doing her homework yesterday.”

While and When in the Past Continuous

It happens that you need to talk about two actions occurring in the past in parallel, that is, during one period of time common to them. To talk about an event that was unfolding while another event was happening, you should use the words “while” or “when.” What is the difference between them?

When the form of conversation is formal and does not allow colloquial sentences, use while. If we are talking about a friendly conversation, colloquial when would be more appropriate.

For example: “Kate was singing, when I was eating my breakfast.”

The when form is simpler, unobtrusive and ideal for conversations in informal settings, but is absolutely not suitable for formal conversations. When communicating with native speakers, you need to carefully monitor this! Inappropriate use of words that are inappropriate in their form can cause misunderstandings and conflicts, which, by the way, could easily be avoided.

Thus, knowing the rules for using time, as well as the signs of situations that should be described using it, you can significantly improve your level.

The main thing is not to neglect studying the most important rules and not to be lazy in applying the acquired information in practice, because it is this that helps to bring the application of knowledge to automaticity, which, in fact, is the essence of free communication.

Past Simple — grammatical tense, which is used to indicate a completed action in the past. This is usually indicated by clue words. For example He finished school in 2002. He graduated from school in 2002. Thus, the indication 2002 is a clue word that requires the use of the Past Simple.

Past Continuous- in this grammatical tense we are primarily interested in the continuous character specific action in past. Often this time is accompanied by hints in your own words. For example, He was drinking tea with his friends yesterday at 5. That is, we are interested in a specific moment in the past, and special words indicate this.

Hint words

Let us dwell in a little more detail on the clue words of these two tenses.

Past Simple- yesterday, ago, last, the day before yesterday, in...(date), on...(day). Typically, all of the above clue words are used at the end of a sentence. However, in speech it is possible to use these words at the beginning of a sentence.

Past Continuous- at... (indication of time), all day long (all day), from...till... (from... to...). Just like in the Past Simple, hint words are placed at the end of the sentence, but they can also be used at the beginning of the sentence.

How Past Simple and Past Continuous are formed

Past Simple

Affirmative sentences— I started to work at shool in 2001. The subject is put in first place, then the predicate in the second form (for regular verbs the ending ed is added, for irregular verbs the second form is learned).

Interrogative sentences - Did you start to work at school in 2001? Put first auxiliary Did, which is not translated in any way, is then the subject and predicate in the FIRST (initial) form.

Negative sentences— I did not (didn’t) start to work at school in 2001. (After the subject, did not + verb in the initial form is placed)

Past Continuous

Affirmative sentences— We were having breakfast yesterday at 5. The subject is put first, then to be in the past form (was/were - depending on the number of the subject. In the singular - was, in the plural - were.) + verb ending ...ing .

Interrogative sentences— Were you having breakfast yesterday at 5? The verb to be and the subject change places.

Negative sentences- We were not (weren’t) having breakfast at 5. After the verb to be, the particle not is placed.

Using two tenses together in one sentence

Often Past Simple And Past Continuous used side by side in the same sentence. The most important thing in this case is to correctly determine which time to use in which case. Consider an example: Sally came when I was having breakfast. Sally came while I was having breakfast. Let's compare the two actions. One of them is of a long-term nature - to have breakfast, the other is one-time, fast character- come. Thus, when two past actions collide in one sentence, you need to choose, reasoning as to which action lasted longer and which happened quickly. In such cases, two sentences are usually connected using conjunctions when(when and while(while)

Examples from fiction

A chill wind was blowing that nipped him sharply and bit with especial venom into his wounded shoulder. // Jack London " The Call Of the Wild"

She was trying to see it in a mirror behind the counter without letting the truck driver know, and so she pretended to push a bit of hair to neatness. // John Steinbeck "The Grapes Of Wrath"

The man was limping on towards this latter, as if he were the pirate come to life, and come down, and going back to hook himself up again. // Charles Dickens"Great Expectations"

Exercises on Past Simple / Past Continuous (test)

Affirmative form Past Continuous Tense formed using an auxiliary verb to be in the simple past tense (Simple Past/Past Indefinite - was, were) and the participle I (Participle I) of the main verb (i.e. infinitive + ending -ing).

was, were + Participle I

I was working at 6 p.m. I worked at six o'clock in the evening.
We were reading. We read.

Interrogative form The Past Continuous is formed by rearranging the auxiliary verb and the subject affirmative form- the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

Was he working? He worked?
Were are you reading? Did you read?

In the negative form, it is possible to use abbreviated forms (only the negation not is subject to abbreviation):

I wasn't working.
We weren't reading.

Use

Past Continuous is used:

• 1. To express a continued action that occurred at a certain moment in the past. The moment of the action may be clear from the context or indicated:

A) precise indication time: at 6 o’clock (yesterday) - (yesterday) at 6 o'clock, at that moment - at that moment, at that time - while and so on.

We were reading newspapers at 7 o’clock (yesterday). At seven o'clock (yesterday) we were reading newspapers.
At that time I was talking with my friend over the telephone. At that time I was talking to my friend on the phone.

b) to express an action that began (but did not end) before another action expressed in Simple Past/Past Indefinite, and was still continuing at the time of the action expressed in Simple Past.

They were playing when the teacher came in. They were playing when the teacher came in.
The teacher came in when they were playing. The teacher came in while they were playing.

• 2. To express excessive duration of action with expressions such as: all day long - all day, all the time - all the time, the whole day - all day, from 10 till 12 - from 10 to 12 o'clock, during - during and etc.

They were working the whole day.
They worked all day.

• 3. In descriptions - to describe the development of an action or the situation against which the event takes place.

A girl was playing the piano and (was) singing softly to herself. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. The girl stopped playing. The cat woke up...
The girl played the piano and hummed quietly. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. The girl stopped playing. The cat woke up...

• 4. With an adverb always to express a repeatedly repeated action that is already boring and annoys the speaker.

My mother was always saying not to come late. My mother always told me not to come home late.
Wasn't always ringing me up after his work. He always called me after work. (I'm sick of you.)

Compare:
Don't always rank me up after his work.
The use of Past Indefinite (Simple Past) changes the speaker’s emotional attitude to what happened, is perceived by him as an ordinary, normal phenomenon, an action-fact and is translated: He always called me after work.

• 5. To express gradually developing actions, events, even if the time is not indicated (the time of development of the action is clear from the context).

It was getting dark. It was getting dark.
The wind was rising. The wind was rising.

• 6. In questions when they are interested in the time spent, the use of Past Continuous is a more polite form of question or answer than Simple Past/Past Indefinite.

What were you doing during your summer vacation?
What did you do during your summer holidays?
(This sounds more polite than “What did you do during your summer vacation?”)

Affirmative form

Subject + was/were + Infinitive without to ending -ing

1. We were talking to each other when Sam suddenly interrupted us - We were talking to each other when Sam suddenly interrupted us.

• talking – infinitive without to with ending -ing

2. Yesterday at 2 o"clock I was having lunch with my friend - Yesterday at 2 o'clock I had lunch with my friend.

• having – infinitive without to with ending -ing

3. I burnt my finger when I was cooking dinner - I burned my finger when I was cooking dinner.

• was – auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in singular form
• cooking – infinitive without to ending in -ing

Negative form

Subject + was/were + not + Infinitive without to with -ing ending

1. I was not using my computer when Emily took it - I was not using my computer when Emily took it.

• was – auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in singular form
• not – negative particle
• using – infinitive without to with ending -ing

2. They were not listening to the teacher when he asked this question - They did not listen to the teacher when he asked this question.

• were – auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in plural form
• not – negative particle
• listening – infinitive without to with ending -ing

3. Yesterday at 10 o"clock at night Anthony still was not sleeping - Yesterday at 10 o'clock in the evening Anthony was still not sleeping.

• was – auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in singular form
• not – negative particle

Interrogative form

was/were + Subject + Infinitive without to with -ing ending

1. Were you working last week at this time? – Were you working at this time last week?

• were – an auxiliary verb that stands still before subject to form a question
• working – infinitive without to with ending -ing

2. What was he doing when you came to visit him? -What was he doing when you came to see him?

• after question word what and before subject to
• doing – infinitive without to with ending -ing

3. Where was the cat sleeping when you were looking for it? – Where was the cat sleeping when you were looking for him?

• was is an auxiliary verb that stands after question word where and before subject to
• sleeping – infinitive without to with ending -ing
• were – auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in plural form
• looking – infinitive without to with ending -ing

#2 Cases of using Past Continuous

1. To express an action that was in the process of happening at a certain moment in the past. This moment may be determined by time or another action in the past.

• I saw this ad when I was watching TV last night - I saw this advertisement when I was watching TV last night. (the action expressed by the Past Continuous (was watching) began in the past and continued at the moment when another action occurred (saw), expressed by the Past Simple)
• Yesterday at 5 o"clock he was writing his essay - Yesterday at 5 o'clock he was writing an essay. (action expressed Past Continuous (was writing) began in the past and was at the moment of completion in certain time in the past (yesterday at 5 o"clock))

2. To express a continuous action that continued at a certain time in the past, although not necessarily continuously during that period of time.

• During her probation my sister was driving to work – During the internship, my sister went to work by car. (action expressed Past Continuous (was driving) continued at a certain time in the past (during her probation), although not necessarily continuously during this period of time)
• In August they were preparing to relocate - In August they were preparing to move. (action expressed by Past Continuous (were preparing) continued at a certain time in the past (in August), although not necessarily continuously during this period of time)

3. To express two actions that occurred in the past at the same time. Please note that the Past Simple can also be used in this situation.

• My mother was washing up the dishes while I was doing my homework - My mother washed the dishes while I was doing my homework. (two actions in the past, expressed by Past Continuous (was washing up and was doing) occurred at the same time in the past)
• Some were swimming in the lake while others were lying in the sun – Some were swimming in the lake, while others were sunbathing. (two actions expressed by Past Continuous (were swimming and were lying) occurred at the same time in the past)