Past Continuous/ progressive,uses,structure,formula,sentences and example sentences

 

           Past Continuous/ progressive tense

 

Forming sentences with Past Continuous

 Sub +Helping verb was/were base form of the verb+ing+object+.

e.g.    He was working in Dubai.

          The teacher was taking our class.

          They were watching a movie when police came.

          He was studying and I was cooking.

          It was raining, when I left the area.

POSTIVE       (Affirmative)   Subject + Helping Verb + was/were+ base form of the verb +object+ .

                                        She was taking a rest.

NEGATIVE  :   Subject +Helping Verb was/were+ Not +base form of the verb+ object+.

                                                   She was not taking a rest?

Interrogative:  Helping Verb was/were + subject + base form of the verb +Object + ?

                  Was she taking a rest?  

 Past progressive Tense has Two helping Verbs (was/were)

First person singular	I was
Second person singular	you were
Third person singular	he / she / it was
First person plural	we were
Second person plural	you were
Third person plural	they were

 

Using Past Continuous

1. We use past continuous to say that an action was in progress/continue at a particular time in the past.

o    We were having dinner with the guests.

o    Yesterday at this time I was playing football.

2. We use past continuous to say that an action in the past was temporary.

o    I was waiting there for my Friends.

o    He was working there to get some money.

3. Past continuous – Two events in progress at the same time in the pas

 

I was reading a novel and my sis was cooking.

They were working and I was taking a rest.

4.    Past continuous – Setting the scene in a story

The king was reading a book and the other ministers were talking about the next day’s program, meanwhile a female servant came to him and wept bitterly. The Female servant was cursing a female co- worker.

Past continuous and stative ( non-progressive verbs)

  we don’t normally use past continuous with stative verbs.

·         She was believing you. (incorrect)           we should use  she believes you.

·         I was liking cake.         (incorrect)              I like cake.

Because .there is no action involved with above mentioned verbs

Let us practice.

 Choose the correct option

1. They  ____  playing hide and seek in the park.          (was - were)
2. we were  ____ to the movies.                                    (go- going)
3. I was___ the book you gave me on my birthday.       (read- reading)
4. Ali  _____  pressing his new dress.                            (press-pressing)
5. The dogs were ____ all night.                                     (bark- barking)
6. He was ___ his room when he heard the noise.         (paint- painting)
7. It was___ darker with each passing moment.             (get –getting)
8. The Student was ____ .                                              (Shouting- shout)