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In this article, we will look at the past long tense in English. We call all past tenses in English Past Tenses, the difference of which is only in their duration or quality: whether it will be simple past - Past Simple, long past - Past Continuous or past perfect - Past perfect. In this article, let's stop and look at Past Continuous Tense.
Past continuous is a tense that is used to describe a continuous action in the past. Basically, this is a process that lasted at a certain moment or period in the past. The moment of action must be clearly defined, or be understandable in the context of the proposal.
Formation of affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous
When I came to London, it was raining. When I arrived in London, it was raining. Martin was studying history from three till eight o'clock. From three to eight o'clock Martin taught history. Lisa was cooking the pancakes, when I entered the kitchen. Lisa was making 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 We didn't have a class at this time yesterday. Last year she wasn't eating fat food as she was on diet. Last year she didn't eat fatty food 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 entered the room? What were you doing at five o'clock? I was searching the web. What were you doing at five o'clock? Sat on the Internet.
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Using the Past Continuous
Time Indicators (time indicators)
All the time all day long at seven o'clock yesterday the whole Friday during the film from three till eight o'clock
Examples of using sentences in the Past Continuous
I was reading an interesting article at 6 pm yesterday evening. I was reading an interesting article at 6 pm 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 drove out of town. The sun was shining, the birds were singing.
Watch video on Past Continuous tense
Knowledge of English is almost a vital necessity in our time. Children are introduced to its basics from a very early age, and a diligent high school student is completely able to speak English fluently. Like any other language, it has its own characteristics, which should be given a lot of attention.
According to those who started learning already in adulthood, one of the most difficult features of this language is tenses. English speech involves the division of all situations according to the time when they occurred, are occurring or will occur relative to this moment. It can sometimes be difficult for beginners to master this topic right away, but diligence, attention to theory and active practice will help you quickly adapt.
One of the most curious tenses is Past Continuous Tense
It is past tense, but continuous. That is, they use it, not just wanting to put the listener in front of a fact (for example, “Olya cooked dinner yesterday”), but aiming to describe it, indicate its duration (for example, “Olya cooked dinner yesterday: she baked a turkey and cooked a cake "). But - how to build 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, you need to use the second form of the verb "to be" ("to be"), that is - was(if it is singular) or - were(if there are several subjects of conversation). In addition, the verb used in speech acquires the ending "ing"
The sentence itself, depending on its form, will be built 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, both the full form was not and were not, and the abbreviated form can be used. The second, by the way, is more common, while the full one is used extremely rarely, mainly in official speech.
When to use the Past Continuous
There are three main cases when in the process of narration it is necessary to refer to this particular time..
- If the described continuous action took place over a certain, 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 at the time when some other action took place. That is, one of the events described has already continued for 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 at the same time interval. It is not known whether they started 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 the same meaning in a conversation.
While Tony was cooking, Ann was reading a book.
Remarkably, 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 imagined how she would read a book on the beach, you need to make a construction like: Amy was planning how she would be reading a book on the beach.
The beginning of the sentence is a familiar construction, compiled according to the rules of the Past Continuous, while its second part begins with the words “would be” (in the negative form - wouldn’t be), after which the verb necessarily follows with the ending “ing”.
Thus, connecting 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 the forms of verbs, building a competent sentence, you need to have a clear understanding of the cases in which this or that tense is used.
- Past Simple is distinguished primarily by the completeness of thought.
- Past Continuous, on the other hand, emphasizes the duration of the action.
That is, if you need to notify about the fact, to inform the listener, Simple is involved, and when you need to tell more about the event, then Continuous. Here, for example, the sentence: "Mary did her homework yesterday." And - another, similar at first glance: "Mary did her homework yesterday."
But the first should be framed in Past Simple, and the second in Past Continuous, due to the specified duration of the action: “Mary was doing her homework yesterday”.
While and When in Past Continuous
It happens that you need to talk about two actions taking place in the past in parallel, that is, during one, common to them, period of time. To talk about an event that was unfolding while another event was happening, use the words "while" or "when". What is the difference between them?
When the form of conversation is formal, not allowing colloquial sentences, use while. If we are talking about a friendly conversation, colloquial when will 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 an informal setting, but it 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 have been 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 the study of the most important rules and not be lazy to apply the learned information in practice, because it is it that helps to bring the application of knowledge to automatism, which, in fact, is the essence of free communication.
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 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 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 Past Simple in the singular form
- cooking - infinitive without to ending -ing
negative form
Subject + was/were + not + Infinitive without to ending -ing
1. I was not using my computer when Emily took it - I did not use my computer when Emily took it.
- was - auxiliary verb to be in Past Simple in the singular form
- not - negative particle
- using - infinitive without to ending -ing
2. They were not listening to the teacher when he asked this question - They were not listening to the teacher when he asked this question.
- were - auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in the plural form
- not - negative particle
- listening - infinitive without to 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 Past Simple in the singular form
- not - negative particle
Interrogative form
was/were + Subject + Infinitive without to ending -ing
1. Were you working last week at this time? Were you working at this time last week?
- were - an auxiliary verb that stands in place before subject to form a question
- working - infinitive without to ending -ing
2. What was he doing when you came to visit him? What was he doing when you came to visit him?
- after the question word what and before subject
- doing - infinitive without to ending -ing
3. Where was the cat sleeping when you were looking for it? Where was the cat sleeping when you were looking for it?
- was is an auxiliary verb that stands after the question word where and before subject
- sleeping - infinitive without to ending -ing
- were - auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in the plural form
- looking - infinitive without to ending -ing
#2 Cases of using Past Continuous
1. To express an action that was in the process of being completed at a certain moment in the past. This moment may be determined by time or by another action in the past.
- I saw this ad when I was watching TV last night - I saw this ad when I was watching TV last night. (the action expressed by Past Continuous (was watching) started in the past and continued at the moment when another action happened (saw), expressed by Past Simple)
- Yesterday at 5 o "clock he was writing his essay - Yesterday at 5 o'clock he wrote an essay. (the action expressed by Past Continuous (was writing) began in the past and was at the time of completion at a certain time in the past (yesterday at 5 o "clock ))
2. To express a prolonged action that continued at a certain time in the past, although not necessarily continuously during this period of time.
- During her probation my sister was driving to work - During her probation, my sister drove 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. (the 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 happened in the past at the same time. Note that Past Simple can also be used in this situation.
- My mother was washing up the dishes while I was doing my homework - My mother was washing the dishes while I was doing my homework. (two actions in the past expressed by Past Continuous (was washing up and was doing) happened 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) happened at the same time in the past)
Past Progressive (Past Continuous) can be translated as "the past long time." It is one of the most commonly used grammatical tenses in the English language. Once you master it, you will be able to express your thoughts more freely.
Structure of an affirmative sentence
In the Past Progressive, sentences are built in the way shown in the diagram below.
Explanation for the diagram:
- S - subject;
- was/were - past tense form of the verb to be (was - for the singular, were - for the plural);
- V ing is a verb with the ending -ing.
I was reading a book yesterday morning. - Yesterdayin the morningIreadbook.
Jane was watching TV yesterday at 3 pm. - YesterdayinthreehoursdaysJanewatchedtelevision.
They were singing all evening. - They aresangthe wholeevening.
Structure of a negative sentence
In a negative sentence, the particle not is added to the verb to be in the past tense.
I was not (wasn't) sleeping when she came. - Whenshe iscame, Inotsleeping.
They were not (weren't) preparing dinner at 2 pm. - ATtwohoursdaystheynotprepareddinner.
He was not (wasn't) playing computer games that morning. - Temin the morninghenotplayedincomputergames.
Interrogative sentence structure
In general interrogative sentences in the Past Progressive, the auxiliary verb is placed at the beginning of the sentence.
WereyoudoingyourhomeworkwhenIcalledyou? - Were you doing your homework when I called you?
Was he walking along the street when it started to rain? - Hewalkedonstreet, whenhas begunrain?
In a special question, the interrogative word is put first, followed by the auxiliary verb, the subject and the verb with the ending -ing.
What were they doing when the police arrived? - Whattheydid, whenarrivedpolice?
Wherewashegoingat 5pmyesterday? Where was he going yesterday at five o'clock in the evening?
A special question for the subject to construct is the easiest: you need to insert Who instead of the subject.
Whowassingingsuchanicesong? - Who sang such a beautiful song?
Please note: the verb in this case is always put in the third person singular, regardless of the number of the subject in the answer.
They were laughing loudly. Who was laughing loudly? - They areloudlylaughing. Who laughed out loud?
Use
There are four uses of the Past Progressive in English. The rules go like this:
- The past continuous tense can denote a continuous action that happened in the past at a certain time. The emphasis is not on the completion of the action, but on its duration. I was listening to music yesterday from 2 till 3 pm. - YesterdayWithtwobeforethreehoursdaysIlistenedmusic. At 10 am yesterday I was having my breakfast. - Yesterdayin10 a.mIhad breakfast. It is necessary to distinguish between Past Progressive and Past Simple, which also indicates a specific time. In the first case, the action lasted at a certain time, and in the second, it began or ended. Yesterday at 10 o'clock in the morning I went to bath. - Yesterdayin10 hoursmorningIwentinbathroom(one-timeaction). Yesterday at 10 o'clock in the morning I was having a shower. - YesterdayintenhoursmorningIacceptedshower(longaction).
- The Past Progressive also denotes two continuous actions that happened at the same time in the past. WhileIwascycling,myfriendswereplayingtennis. While I was cycling, my friends were playing tennis.While I was reading a book, my sister was typing a text. - ByeIreadbook, mysisterprintedtext.
- Past Progressive also indicates a long action that was interrupted by a short action (the Past Simple is used to denote it). I was watching a film when somebody knocked at the door. - Iwatchedmovie, howsuddenlywho-thenknockedinDoor. When I woke up, my mother was talking on the phone. - WhenIwoke up, mymothertalkingontelephone. When I was slicing a carrot, I cut my finger. - WhenIslicedcarrot, Ihurtfinger.
- The past continuous is also used to indicate an annoying action in the past. In this case, the adverb always is needed. They were always coming late! - They arealltimewere late! Youwerealwayscriticizingme! - You always criticized me!
Verbs not used in Progressive
However, exceptions are inevitable. Not all verbs can be used in the Past Progressive. The examples below will illustrate this material. In the tenses of the Continuous (Progressive) group, non-long verbs are not used. These include:
- feelings and emotions - to love, to adore, to hate, to like;
- possession of something - to have, to possess;
- thinking abilities - to think, to believe;
- sense organs - to see, to smell, to hear, to taste;
- other verbs - to seem (to appear), to appear (to appear), to sound (to sound).
Some verbs are mixed. They have several lexical meanings, and the choice of grammatical tense depends on this.
| to look | |
I was looking at the picture when suddenly somebody's hand touched my shoulder. I was looking at the picture when suddenly a hand touched my shoulder. | He looked exhausted. He looked very tired. |
| to see | |
I was seeing a doctor from 9 till 10 am yesterday. Yesterday from 9 to 10 o'clock in the morning I was at the doctor's office. | I saw him smiling. I saw that he was smiling. |
| to smell | |
She was smelling flowers when her husband came in. When her husband came in, she was smelling the flowers. | That pie smelled strange. We decided not to eat it. That cake smelled weird. We decided not to eat it. |
| to think | |
She was thinking about his words when the phone rank. She was just contemplating his words when the phone rang. | He thought it was a bad idea. Still, he couldn't prove it. He thought (thought) it was a bad idea. But he couldn't prove himself right. |
| to weigh | |
She was weighing herself. She weighed herself. | Mary couldn't pick that box up. It weighed almost 70 kilos. Mary couldn't lift the box. She weighed almost 70 kilograms. |
Particular attention should be paid to the verb to be. It can also be used in the Past Progressive to mean "to behave differently than usual."
Hewasveryrudethatevening! - That evening he behaved very rudely! (He is always rude, that evening was no exception).
Hewasbeingveryrudethatevening!Icouldn'ttbelievemyeyes. - That evening he behaved very rudely! I could not believe my eyes (Usually he is polite, but that evening he was rude).
She was so quiet yesterday. Why does she always behave herself in such a way? - She isyesterdaywassuchquiet. Why does she always act like this?
She was being so quiet yesterday. Anythingwrongwithher? She was so quiet yesterday. She is all right?
So, Past Progressive indicates the duration of the action. But it is important to remember about non-long verbs - their use in any tense of the Continuous group is considered a gross mistake.
past simple- grammatical tense, which is used to indicate a completed action in the past. This is usually indicated by hint words. For example He finished school in 2002. He finished school in 2002. Thus, the indication 2002 is a hint word requiring the use of Past Simple.
Past continuous- in this grammatical tense, we are primarily interested in the continuous nature of a specific action in the past. Often this time is accompanied by hints in their 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.
Clues
Let us dwell a little more on the clue words of these two tenses.
past simple- yesterday, ago, last, the day before yesterday, in ... (date), on ... (day). As a rule, all of the above clue words are used at the end of a sentence. However, speeches may use these words at the beginning of a sentence.
Past continuous- at ... (indication of time), all day long (all day), from ... till ... (from ... to ...). As 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 the first place, then the predicate in the second form (the ending ed is added to the regular verbs, the second form is learned from the wrong ones).
Interrogative sentences - Did you start to work at school in 2001? The auxiliary verb Did, which is not translated in any way, is put in the first place, then the subject and predicate in the FIRST (initial) form.
Negative sentences- I did not (didn't) start to work at school in 2001. (The subject is followed by did not + the verb in the initial form)
Past continuous
affirmative sentences- We were having breakfast yesterday at 5. The subject is put in the first place, 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 with the 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. The particle not (not) is placed after the verb to be.
Sharing two tenses in one sentence
Often past simple and Past continuous are 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 in while I was having breakfast. Let's compare two actions. One of them has a long character - to have breakfast, the other one-time, quick character - to come. Thus, when two past actions collide in one sentence, you need to choose, arguing about 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"
