Past Continuous is the past long tense in English. Past Continuous

The rules for using Past Continuous (Past Progressive Tense, or the past long time) seem quite complicated to many. Actually it is not. Today's lesson will help you understand once and for all when we use the past long tense in English.

The Past Continuous form is formed in almost the same way as the Present Continuous, with the only difference being that the verb to be has the form of the past tense.

Education Past Progressive

The Past Continuous education scheme is as follows:

Let's take the verb to work as an example and conjugate it into the Past Continuous:

The conjugation of any verb will look the same. The difference lies only in the formation of the gerund (ing form). In some cases it will be different.

The past continuous tense describes unfinished (unfinished) actions or events in the past. It's not entirely clear yet, so let's take a closer look.

Use Past Continuous (Past Progressive)

1. Interrupted actions in the past

The Past Continuous Tense is used to show that a continuous action in the past has been interrupted. Since interruption is a relatively short action, it is conveyed through the Past Simple form. The word "interruption" does not always mean the actual termination of the action. Sometimes it means simply the imposition of one event (action) in time on another, when a short action, expressed in Past Simple, breaks into a long, unfinished action, as it were.

When the phone rank, I was writing a letter.- When the phone rang, I was writing a letter.

While Kate was sleeping, someone stole her car. While Kate was sleeping, someone stole her car.

I was waiting for her when she got off the plane.- I was waiting for her (met) when she got off the plane.

When the fire started I was watching television. When the fire started, I was watching TV.

In such cases, it is also possible to specify a specific time:

At six o'clock, I was working. I worked at six o'clock.

Yesterday at 8 PM, we were eating dinner. We had dinner at 8 o'clock yesterday evening.

At midnight, we were still watching TV. We were still watching TV at midnight.

IMPORTANT:

The Simple Past is used when specifying a specific time to show when the action started or ended, but with the Past Continuous the situation is somewhat different. Let's see an example:

Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner. (I started supper at 6 o'clock.)
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. (I started dinner earlier, and at 6 o'clock I was in the process.)

2. Parallel events

She was reading while he was making dinner. She was reading while I was preparing dinner.

What were you doing while you were waiting? What were you doing while you were waiting?

When two actions or events in the Past Continuous are indicated in one sentence, this means that these actions (events) occur simultaneously (in parallel).

3. Story in the past tense

Past Continuous can be found in narratives written in the past tense. In this case, any background events are described using this time. Let's see an example:

In the example, you will notice several situations where the Past Continuous is used. As you can see, these are events that have a certain duration (length): the sun was shining, the birds were singing, she was looking for her child, and so on. If you decide to write your own story in English, then this lesson will help you a lot. At the same time, note that in such cases, Past Continuous is used in conjunction with Past Simple.

It can also be said that with the help of the past long time, the so-called atmosphere that reigned in a certain place at a certain time is described.

4. Past habits

Past Progressive is also used when describing any habits (most often annoying) in the past. Words can be indicators of such sentences. always, constantly, forever, at that time, in those days. In Present Continuous there is also such a rule, but for the present time.

He was constantly talking.“He talked all the time.

She was always coming to class late. She was always late for lessons.

I didn't like his friend because he was always complaining. I didn't like his friend because he complained all the time.

5. Finally, we use the past continuous tense when we want to emphasize that some event or action lasted for some long time. This is often indicated by expressions such as all day, all night, for hours and so on.

We were working all day.— We worked all day.

I was preparing for the exam all evening. I have been preparing for the exam all evening.

A few more specific cases of using Past Progressive Tense

1. When a person changed his mind and changed plans (in the construction was / were going to):

I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've decided to get my homework done instead. I wanted to spend the whole day at the beach, but I decided to do my homework instead.

2. With a verb to wonder to form polite requests:

I was wondering if you could give me your e-mail address.

while and when

When we talk about the past using when and while, then when is usually followed by Past Simple, while while is followed by the Past Continuos form, because while is translated as “during the time as”, “while”, that is, it implies lengthy process. The following two examples have exactly the same translation, but pay attention to the use of the past tense - they are different from each other.

He was studying when his mother called.
While he was studying, his mother called.

Remember that some verbs are not used in the continuous form. That is, instead of Past Continuous, such verbs are used in Past Simple:

I was being at my house when she came. Wrong!
I was at my house when she came. Right

Active and passive form:

Assets: The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. The shop assistant was helping the customer when a thief entered the store.

Passive: The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store.

Brief scheme of using Past Progressive:

These were all the rules for using the past long tense. Don't forget to practice using English tenses and come up with your own examples to reinforce the material.

The English language is rich at times. Among them, not the last place is occupied by Past Continuous Tense (Past Long), which is responsible for actions that lasted for some period in the past. But this is not its only function: we will talk about the formula of education, use and time indicators further.

General information

The Past Continuous is translated into Russian as the Past Continuous. The name speaks for itself. Past indicates that the action took place in the past, and Continuous is an aspect that describes the duration, the duration of the action.

There is no such time in Russian. Therefore, for Russian-speaking people, it is not very clear and causes difficulties. As a rule, Past Continuous is translated using imperfective verbs in the past tense.

Design

The Past Continuous is a compound time. Like the Present Continuous (Present Continuous), this tense form is formed with the help of two verbs: the auxiliary to be and the main verb, to which the ending -ing is attached. But since the Past Continuous speaks of the duration of the action in the past, and not in the present, the auxiliary verb to be will also be in the past tense - was / were. All features of the formation of affirmative, negative and interrogative forms are presented in the following table:

Past continuous

Past long tense

Subjects + was/were + main verb + -ing

I was sleeping - I slept

You were sleeping - you were sleeping

He (she, it) was sleeping - he (she, it) slept

We were sleeping - we were sleeping

You were sleeping - you were sleeping

They were sleeping - they were sleeping

Subjects + was/were + not + main verb + -ing

I was not smiling - I didn't smile

You were smiling - you didn't smile

He (she, it) was not smiling - he (she, it) did not smile

We were not smiling - we were not smiling

You were not smiling - you were not smiling

They were not smiling - they did not smile

Was/were + subject + main verb + -ing?

Was I crying? - I cried?

Were you crying? - Did you cry?

Was he (she, it) crying? Did he (she, it) cry?

Were we crying? - Did we cry?

Were you crying? - Did you cry?

Were they crying? - Did they cry?

Past Continuous rules and usage examples

As can be seen from the above examples of conjugation of the verb in the Past Continuous, the grammatical formula for the formation of the form does not cause any particular difficulties. The main thing is to choose one of the forms of auxiliary verbs correctly. Difficulties arise in practice and relate to cases when the Past Continuous is used. To avoid problems in the future, the following rules of use are suggested:

To show an action that took place some time in the past. As a rule, the question of when exactly it began is not important for the speaker. The main thing is to highlight its presence in a given period of time:

At 7 o'clock yesterday she was drinking a cup of hot coffee. She was drinking hot coffee at 7 o'clock yesterday.

To emphasize the process itself rather than the action or subsequent result:

My sister was drawing the whole day. My sister has been painting all day.

To describe a short-term, short-lived situation in the past. The speaker clarifies, specifies when exactly this action took place:

His family was living in Japan for several months. – His family lived in Japan for several months.

In complex sentences, where in one part Past Continuous (Past Continuous) is used to indicate a long action, and in the other - Past Simple (Simple Past) to describe a short single action. The following unions connect the two parts till (until), until (until), before (before), as (while), after (after), when (when):

He was reading a newspaper before we entered the room. He was reading a newspaper before we entered the room.

Not all verbs in English can be used in the Past Continuous. Exceptions include state verbs (to love - love, to like - love, like, to hate - hate).

Time period notation

There are "marker words" for each tense form in English. The Past Continuous is no exception. Usually in sentences where the predicate is expressed by the verb in the past continuous, certain pointer words are used:

The use of Past Continuous.

1. The Past Continuous is used to indicate an action that was in progress at a certain point in the past.

When we return home from vacation, the whole next day we remember our vacation:

And yesterday at this time I was sunbathing on the beach ...

The children were swimming in the sea at this time yesterday...

Yesterday at this time we had dinner at a restaurant...

What tense should you use to say the same thing in English?

Let's take a look at these steps. They are all processes because we don't know when the activity started and when it ended. We only know that at some point in the past, these actions were performed. Therefore, you need to use Past Continuous:

I was sunbathing on the beach this time yesterday.

The children were bathing in the sea this time yesterday.

We were having dinner at the restaurant this time yesterday.

One more example. This time, let's draw parallels with the Present Continuous we already know:

Now it's two o'clock. I'm sitting at my desk and writing an article. - It's two o'clock now. I am sitting at the table and writing an article.

Action in progress at the moment of speech, use Present Continuous. You don't know when the action started, you don't know when it will end.

Now suppose the next day you ask me:

What were you doing yesterday at two o'clock?

I answer:

I sat at the table and wrote an article. -I was sitting at my desk. I was writing an article yesterday at two o'clock.

Having received such an answer, you understand that at the time you are interested in, I was in the process of performing this action, but you do not know when it began and ended.

2. If the sentence indicates two actions, one of which is long (process), and the other is short, then Past Continuous is used to indicate a long action.

In such cases, Past Continuous is used in combination with, because a certain moment in the past can be expressed not only by a specific indication of time (9 o'clock), but also by another past action. Past Continuous denotes a process (long, long action), and Past Simple denotes a short completed action:

I was reading when you came. - I was reading (was in the process of reading) when you came (short completed action).

The boys were playing football when it started to rain. - The boys were playing football (process) when it started to rain (short completed action).

He was working in the garden when the accident happened. - He was gardening (process) when the accident happened (short completed action).

In many cases, it is also said that a short action interrupts the process. If we imagine these situations, then indeed, the processes could be interrupted for a while, and then they could resume again.

Actions are combined in a sentence using words:

when- when (with both tenses)

while/ as- When; while; bye (only with Past Continuous)

1. The teacher was writing on the board when the latecomers entered the room. - The teacher wrote on the blackboard (process) when the latecomers entered the room (short action).

2. While I was cooking, I burnt myself. - While I was cooking (was in the process), I burned myself (short action).

3. As we were looking out of the window, we saw your mother. - When we looked out the window (process), we saw your mother (short action).

note that if the connecting word is in the middle of a sentence (example 1), no comma is placed before it. And if the connecting word is at the beginning of the sentence, then a comma is placed before the second part of the sentence (examples 2 and 3).

3. We use Past Continuous if we are talking about two simultaneous processes:

When the teacher was explaining the new topic, I was writing down. - When the teacher explained a new topic, I wrote it down.

My mother was cooking while my father was washing the car. Mom was cooking while dad was washing the car.

We were watching while the actors were rehearing. - We watched when the actors were rehearsing.

Two simultaneous processes can be combined with the help of words:

when/ while/as- When; while; Bye

4. Past Continuous can be used at the beginning of a story, story, as a preface to create the atmosphere of a story.

The main events of the story are described in the Past Simple:

It was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining and we were driving along the country road. - It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and we were driving along the country road.

It happened one winter night. The wind was blowing and the snow was falling heavily. She was sitting by the fireplace and reading. - It happened on a winter night. The wind was blowing and it was snowing heavily. She sat by the fireplace and read.

5. The Past Continuous is used to emphasize that an action lasted a long time in the past with qualifiers such as all day, all night, all morning, evening and so on.

Note that the action must be completed and the time period has ended:

I was studying all day yesterday and today I passed my exam. - I studied all day yesterday, and today I passed the exam.

My neighbor's dog was barking all night so I couldn't sleep. - My neighbors dog barked all night and I couldn't sleep.

We were cooking all morning and in the afternoon our quests came. - We cooked all morning, and in the afternoon guests came.

6. In some functions, Past Continuous intersects with, but with the only difference that the action is transferred to the past.

Temporary action:

I was staying at this hotel when I met her. - I lived (stayed - temporary action) in this hotel when I met her.

My mother was a shop assistant. But she was working as a cashier when it happened. - My mother worked as a salesman, but when it happened, she worked as a cashier (temporarily, on that day).

Annoying, repetitive action (with the word Always ):

She was always telling stories about her private life. She was always telling stories from her personal life.

He was always talking on the phone in a loud voice. He was constantly talking loudly on the phone.

The Past Continuous is often confused with the Past Simple. In our next publications, we will analyze in detail.

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Past continuous is the long past tense of English. Used to indicate a process that took place some time in the past, while the exact time when the action took place must be indicated or it must be clear from the context of the sentence. Below are the rules for the formation of the Past Continuous in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences, auxiliary words and examples of its use.

Education Past Continuous

Past Continuous in the affirmative sentence is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was / were (this is the verb to be in the 2nd form) and the verbs in the first form with the addition of the ending -ing to it. The auxiliary verb was is used only with the 1st and 3rd person singular, in other cases were is used. Formula:

Noun + was / were + verb in form 1 with -ing added to it

An example of a declarative sentence:

When you called I was taking a shower. I was taking a shower when you called.

I was watching TV at 5 o'clock yesterday. I was watching TV at five o'clock yesterday.

In the negative sentence, the auxiliary verb was / were is also used, but the share not is added to them at the end. Education rule:

Noun + was / were + not + verb in form 1 with -ing added to it

At the same time, was / were can merge with the not share and form was not / were not. Objection examples:

In the evening I was not watching TV. — I didn’t watch TV in the evening.

I was not walking on the street when you called me. I wasn't walking outside when you called me.

To create an interrogative sentence in the Past Continuous, the auxiliary verbs was and were are placed at the beginning of the sentence. rule:

Was / Were + noun + verb in 1 form with the addition of the ending -ing to it

Examples of interrogative sentences:

Were you sitting here at 8 o'clock in the morning? — Were you sitting here at 8:00 in the morning?

Was he doing his homework when I came? Was he doing his homework when I came?

Auxiliary words Past Continuous

In Past Continuous, unlike Past Simple, there are no pronounced auxiliary words. In fact, there are only three words and phrases that always use the past long.

cases, VwhichusedPast continuous

The following are cases in which the use of the Past Continuous is appropriate. There are five in total in English.

I use case: interrupted action in the past

Interrupted Action in the Past

The Past Continuous is used to indicate long-term actions in the past that were interrupted. To indicate a short duration of action, Past Simple is used. In this case, a long break can be valid or only as a time break. examples:

I was watching TV when she called. I was watching TV when she called.

I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm. — I listened to the iPod, and did not hear the fire alarm.

You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off. You didn't listen to me when I told you to turn off the stove.

II use case: action in the past, which is tied to time

Specific Time as an Interruption

In this case, the Past Continuous is used to indicate an action, it is tied to any time in the past. examples:

Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. I had dinner yesterday at 6:00 pm.

At midnight, we were still driving through the desert. At midnight we were still driving through the desert.

Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work. Yesterday at the same time I was sitting at my desk at work.

Use Case III: Parallel Actions in the Past

Parallel Actions

The Past Continuous can be used to refer to two continuous actions in the past happening at the same time. Actions are parallel, and while is often used to link them. examples:

I was studying while he was making dinner. I was studying while he was cooking dinner.

Were you listening while he was talking? Did you listen when he spoke?

Thomas was not working, and I was not working either. Thomas didn't work and I didn't work either.

IV use case: atmosphere transfer

In rare cases, Past Continuous is used to convey the atmosphere of what action. Eg:

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. — When I entered the office, several people were busy typing, some were talking on the phone, the boss was yelling at everyone, and customers were waiting for help. One client yelled at the secretary and waved his arms. Others complained to each other about poor service.

Use Case V: Transferring Repetitive Actions and Annoyance

Repetition and Irritation with Always

Past Continuous can be used with the words always or constantly to convey your irritation with actions that often happened in the past. Similar to used to, but with a very negative connotation. The words always and constantly must always be placed between the auxiliary verb and the -ing verb. examples:

She was always coming to class late. She was always late for lessons.

He was constantly talking. He announced everyone. “He kept talking. It annoyed everyone.

I didn't like them because they were always complaining. I didn't like them because they always complained

The past continuous/extended is the past tense to denote an ongoing activity. It is formed by the form of the service verb be+ real communion. Past continuous negatives was not / wasn't, were not / weren't before communion.

The past continuous says that someone was in the process of doing something at a particular time. This action/situation has already begun by that time, but has not yet ended.

It was raining all night - Allnightlilo

was/were + -ing


was sb doing sth	sb was doing sth	sb wasn't doing sth

Past continuous spelling

To add an end –ing

consonant verbs + — e discard the last vowel (except being)

starve – starving

carve-carving

verbs with a stressed vowel + consonant double the final consonant

rub-rubbing

stop-stopping

verbs in — ie change it to – y-

lie-lying

die-dying

vowel verbs + — l double the final consonant (in British English)

travel-traveling

cancel - cancelling

Past Continuous Values

past actions (with a temporary indication)

At 7 o'clock yesterday evening they were having dinner - YesterdayV7 pmTheyhad dinner

In May of last year she was studying hard for her final examspastMayshestubbornlypreparedTograduationexams

At 6 o'clock this morning I was walking along the beach6 a.mIwalkedBybeach

What were you doing at 10 o'clock last night? - WhatYoudidV10 pm?

temporary situations (around another past interruption)

He was walking down the street when he ran into an old friend - HewalkedBystreet, Whencame acrossonhisoldfriend

They were watching a film when we arrived - WhenWecame, Theywatchedmovie

She was studying law when the war started - Onmomentstartwarsshestudiedjurisprudence

I waved to her but she wasn't looking - Iwavedto her, ButsheevenNotwatched

Ithoughtyouwerenevercoming - I already thought you would never come

concurrent processes

Shewastalkingonhermobilephonewhileshewasdrivingtowork - She was talking on a mobile phone, while she was driving to work

While I was driving along this morning, I was thinking about what you'd saidIwasin the morningbehinddriving, Ithoughtaboveyourwords

He was cooking the dinner while she was talking to him - ByesheWiththemtalking, Hecookeddinner

stage plots (introductions/prehistory of stories)

One beautiful autumn afternoon, Ben was strolling down a quiet country lane. The birds were singing and the leaves were rustling in the breeze - OnebeautifulautumnafternoonBenwalked

along a quiet lane. The birds sang and the leaves rustled in the breeze

The wind was blowing and the rain was beating down. John Snell was standing at the bus stop shivering. He was trying to imagine being at home sitting by a warm fire – Dulwind, Andpoundedrain. John Snell stood trembling at the bus stop. He tried to imagine how he sits at home by a warm fire.

Temporary indication

while, when, as

I was walking home when I met Dave - Ialreadywalkedhome, WhenmetDave

Ann was watching TV when the phone rang – AnnwatchedTV, Whenrangtelephone

Tom burnt his hand when he was cooking the dinner – Tomburnedhandcookingdinner

adverbial phrases

all morning/evening/day/yesterday/night/week

I was watching TV all evening - IwatchedTVthe wholeevening

Were you working all weekend? - YouworkedAllweekend?

This time last yearI was living in Brazil – RivneyearbackIlivedVBrazil

English Joke

The little girl in the zoological park tossed bits of a bun to the stork, which gobbled them greedily, and bobbed its head towards her for more.

"What kind of a bird is it, mamma?" the child asked.

The mother read the placard, and answered that it was a stork.

"O-o-o-h!" the little girl cried, as her eyes rounded. Of course, it recognized me!

Negation in Past Continuous
		(wasnt) ["wɒznt]

	were not	(werent)

Past Continuous is the past long tense in English. Past Continuous - Past Continuous