Reply to comment
Past Continuous
We use the Past Continuous to talk about past actions in progress. The actions can also be interrupted by something (for example: "I was eating my breakfast when the telephone rang"), but there are also several other uses.
Yesterday at this time Steven Seagal was riding a horse (Use 1)
John was smoking a cigarette when he saw a spider (Use 2)
Sorry, you need to install flash to see this content.
|
Use
- Actions in progress
- Interrupted actions in progress
- Actions in progress at the same time in the past.
- Irritation
- Timid / polite question (read more below)
Interrupted actions in progress
Events that were in progress when another event happened. We often use "when" to link these two events. Because "when" is usually followed by a sentence in the Past Simple, the grammatical structure has this pattern:
[Past Continuous] + When + [Past Simple]
Below you can find lots of examples marked "Use 2"
Sorry, you need to install flash to see this content.
A rhinoceros was swatting flies with his tail when suddenly a fly bit him (Use 2)
Timid / polite question
- I was wondering if...
- I was thinking you might...
Although these sentences have the Past Continuous form, they apply to the present moment. Their meaning is similar to the "could you" sentences but they are more polite.
- I was wondering if you could carry my bag.
Form
Declarative sentences:
| Subject | + | Auxiliary verb | + | Verb + ing |
| I / a dog etc. | was / were | going / taking |
- At 3 p.m., I was having lunch (Use 1)
(the lunch started earlier than 3 p.m.) - They were talking about her when she walked into the room. (Use 2)
- While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was washing the dishes. (Use 3)
- We were all thinking about our holidays. (Use 1)
- Shannon was filling in a questionnaire when the pen ran out of ink. (Use 2)
Sorry, you need to install flash to see this content.
|
Sorry, you need to install flash to see this content.
|
Questions:
| Auxiliary verb | + | Subject | + | Verb + ing |
| was/were | I/a dog etc. | going/taking |
- Was she going to the theater when it started raining? (Use 2)
- What were the defenders doing when Kenneth struck the ball? (Use 2)
- Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 p.m.? (Use 1)
- Was Mary shopping when the mall was burning ? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
| Subject | + | Auxiliary verb + not | + | Verb + ing |
| I/a dog etc. | wasn't/weren't | going/taking |
- He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel. (Use 1)
- We weren't playing football when the earthquake began. (Use 2)
Remember that you can also use the Past Continuous to show your irritation over something or somebody in the past. E.g. She was always asking me stupid questions.