The Past Continuous Tense

The Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous (also called past progressive) is a verb tense which is used to
show that an ongoing past action was happening at a specific moment of interruption, or
that two ongoing actions were happening at the same time.
Past Continuous Forms

The past continuous is formed using was/were + present participle. Questions are
indicated by inverting the subject and was/were. Negatives are made with not.
 Statement: You were studying when she called.

 Question: Were you studying when she called?
 Negative: You were not studying when she called.
Complete List of Past Continuous Forms
Past Continuous Uses

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.
 What were you doing when the earthquake started?
 I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
 You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
 While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
 Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
 While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
 A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.
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?
 I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several
mistakes.
 What were you doing while you were waiting?
 Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
 They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
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.
Past Continuous Tips

While vs. When
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete
sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or
"when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and
"while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often
followed by the verb tense simple past, whereas "while" is usually followed by past
continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below.
They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.
Examples:
 I was studying when she called.

 While I was studying, she called.
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
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 About Active / Passive Forms

The Past Continuous Tense

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The Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Forms

 Statement: You were studying when she called.

Complete List of Past Continuous Forms

Past Continuous Uses

 I was watching TV when she called.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

 Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.

USE 3 Parallel Actions

 I was studying while he was making dinner.

 When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

 She was always coming to class late.

Past Continuous Tips

 I was studying when she called.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

 Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct

 You were just studying when she called.

More About Active / Passive Forms

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