Past Continuous - rules and examples. Past Continuous - Past Continuous

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"

Exercises for Past Simple / Past Continuous (test)

I suggest you get acquainted with another tense from the Continuous group, namely, Past Continuous Tense (Past Continuous Tense). Although it is not used very often either in speech or in writing, you will still need to master it when studying English grammar.

What is Past Continuous Tense?

The Past Continuous is one of several English tense forms that describe an action that has already taken place in the past. The peculiarity of this past tense is that it was long. Action in Past Continuous Tense is expressed as continuing (flowing) at a certain point in the past. Education Past Continuous Tense - Past Continuous Tense

Rules for the formation of Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Tense is a compound tense formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple Tense (was, were) and the present participle of the main verb. Simply put, the present participle (Present Participle) is a verb with the ending -ing.

You can find the rules that must be observed when forming the present participle (Present Participle) in the article Present Continuous

• affirmative form Past Continuous Tense is formed with a verb to be(I/ he/ she/ it was, we/ you/ they were), which is placed after the subject and before the Present Participle of the main verb.

• At education interrogative form Past Continuous Tense auxiliary verb to be(was, were) is placed before the subject, and the Present Participle of the main verb is placed after the subject.

• negative form forms a particle not, which in colloquial speech merges into one with the auxiliary verb to be:

The subject is followed by the verb to be(was, were) combined with negation not, followed by the Present Participle of the main verb.

Conjugation table of the verb to dream in Past Continuous Tense

Do not forget!
Quite a lot of verbs are not used in a long form (Continuous). A detailed list of these verbs can be found in the article Present Simple

Past Continuous Tense is used

1. When expressing an action or state that took place during a certain moment in the past tense. The period of this action can be indicated by adverbial phrases such as:

• at 4 o'clock yesterday - yesterday at 4 o'clock
• at that moment / time last Sunday - at that moment / at that time last Sunday

or it may be indicated by another action expressed by a verb in the Past Simple Tense. Examples:

• They were watching the news at 9 o'clock yesterday. They were watching the news at 9 o'clock yesterday.
• At that time he was talking with me over the telephone. At that moment he was talking to me on the phone.
• They were playing when the teacher came in. When the teacher came in, they were playing.
• You were sleeping when I left. You were asleep when I left.

2. The Past Continuous is often used to show that an action has taken too long. In such sentences, there are often circumstances of time:

• the whole day - the whole day
• all the time - all the time
• all day long - all day long
• from 5 till 8 o'clock - from 5 to 8 o'clock

• I was working the whole day. — I worked all day long.
• He was repairing his car from 4 to 6 p.m. last Saturday. He was repairing his car from 4 to 6 pm last Saturday.

3. When expressing disapproval or impatience for a past inclination or habit. These sentences often use adverbs:

• always - always
• constantly - constantly
• ever - forever

• My father was always saying not to come late. My dad always asked me not to come late.
• I was always ringing him up after my work. I always called him after work.

4. To indicate an action that was in progress, in a subordinate clause of time after prepositions:

• while - while
• when - when

In the main clause, the verb is used in the Past Simple Tense. Examples:

• She watched a film while the children were playing in the garden. She was watching a movie while the children were playing in the garden.
• While Nansy was cooking breakfast, her husband read the newspaper. While Nastya was preparing breakfast, her husband was reading a newspaper.

5. In order to show that the action in the past developed gradually:

• The wind was rising. - The wind was picking up.
• It was getting dark. - It was getting dark.

6. When expressing an action that was planned in the past for the near future in terms of the past.

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, inwhichusedPast 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. For 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. — 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

"Past Continius" is the past long tense. This is an analytic form that is formed by using the past tense auxiliary verb to be (was / were) and adding the ending -ing to the semantic verb.

When native speakers use the Past Continuous

Native English speakers quite often use the present tense in their speech to express a long process that took place in the past. The start and end of the action do not matter because they are unknown. The only important thing is that the action is in progress, i.e. continues.

An hour ago I was watching TV

Unlike Russian, where it is customary to allocate only three tenses (present, future and past), the English language contains as many as 12. But at the initial stage of learning a foreign language, it is important to understand that it also, in fact, has three tenses. However, they have their own grammatical varieties, which foreigners are trying to understand for a very long time and painstakingly. In principle, there is nothing difficult in understanding the tenses of the English language. The main thing to remember is that, for example, the tenses of the Simple category are aimed at expressing constant and regularly repeated actions, the tenses of the Continuous category show duration, the Perfect category focuses on the final result.

The English system of tenses is more complex than the Russian one, but it is more informative. The English language as a whole has a very clear and consistent structure. After all, this language has a clear word order, unlike Russian. As for times, the English have a suitable time for every occasion. They convey the semantic load of the sentence using a certain time. The Russian language is less informative in this respect.

When is the Past Continuous used?

There are four cases of using "Paste Continius", the rules for using which must be clearly known and understood. Often, English learners make a lot of mistakes when using tenses, often forget about auxiliary verbs, endings, etc. Ending errors occur in Present Simple Tense when students forget to add endings to a verb in the third person.

To avoid such mistakes, you need not to learn these rules by heart, but just understand the logic of use. In this scenario, the theme of English times will get used to quickly and efficiently.

The first rule of using Past Continuous Tense

First, the Past Continuous is used to show actions that took place at a particular moment or period in the past.

We were writing for one hour / We wrote for an hour.

It is important to note that, as a rule, in such sentences there are indications of the time of what is happening or a whole period. For example, you can find in the sentences of the past long tense such words indicating the time as: at 6 a.m. (at 6 am), at 3 o`clock (at three o'clock), etc. Also in sentences there can be words indicating a period, such as while (while), whole day (whole day), during morning or some time (during the morning or some time), etc.

It is important to note that state verbs are not used in Past and

Second rule of thumb

Secondly, "Past Continius" is used to express actions that took place at a certain period in the past, those. a situation that lasted a short period of time in the past. This period of time, as a rule, is specified in the proposals.

He was studying literature in winter

The third rule of use

Thirdly, "Paste Continius", examples of which can be found in this article, is also used in situations that express individual plans of a person in the past, but for some reason they did not happen.

I was hoping to go to Canada / I was hoping to go to Canada.

The fourth rule of use

Fourth, "Paste Continius" is used to express a negative attitude towards other people's habits, etc. As a rule, such sentences are most often called emotionally colored. They can be accompanied by words such as always (always), often (often), constantly (constantly).

All additional subtleties of using "Paste Continius": sentences with examples

In addition to clear rules for the use of this time, there are still some situations where it should be used. When else can we use "Paste Continius"?

This time is used if a person is talking about two parallel actions, i.e. occurring simultaneously in the past. As a rule, such actions are connected by unions: and (and) and while (while). It should be noted that n and one of the parallel actions of the proposal is not a background for the others.

I was sleeping while my mother was cooking breakfast for me and my father / While I was sleeping, my mother cooked breakfast for me and my father.

An interesting fact is that Past Continuous and Past Simple are quite often used together to express the interruption of an action by another. Unclear? Let's take a very clear example.

I was reading the book, when somebody knocked in the door / I was reading a book when someone rang at the door.

As a rule, such actions are connected with unions when (when), before (before), while (while), untill (not yet). In a situation of informal conversation, sometimes instead of while is used when.

It is also important to note that Past Continuous is used in most cases in fiction: in stories and stories. This tense is used to describe the full atmosphere and setting of a story.

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.

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.