Past-Continuous-Tense

Past Continuous/Progressive Tense

The past continuous tense is most often used for actions happening at some time in the past.

Uses of past continuous tense:
1. It is used to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the simple past.
Examples.
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

2. In USE 1, described above, the past continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the simple past. However, we can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples.
Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

Note: In the simple past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the past continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples.
Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.             (I started eating at 6 PM)
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. (I started earlier, and at 
6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.)

3. When the past continuous tense is used with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples.
I was studying while he was making dinner.
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

Sentence Structure of Past Continuous Tense

Structure of positive sentence:

Subject + was/were + (ing form of verb) + Object.

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.

Simple Sentences:
                 (Subject + Helping verb +    Verb-ing   + Object)
             (She                  was                    going      to the market.)
She was going to the market.      They were going to the market
He was visiting his aunt’s home. I was visiting my aunt’s home.
It was raining in winter.               We were playing a cricket match.
Jack was writing a letter.               You were eating a burger.

Structure of negative sentence:

Subject + was/were + not + (ing for of verb) + Object.

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with
‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.

Negative sentences:
            (Subject + Was not/were not +    Verb-ing  + Object)
             (She                  was not              watching     T.V.)
They/We/You Were not Watching T.V.
He/She Was not Speaking French properly.
I Was not Visiting my aunt’s home.
It Was not Raining in Ghana daily.

Structure of interrogative sentence:

 Was/were + Subject + (ing form of verb + Object?

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.

Interrogative Sentences:
            (Was/Were    +Subject +    Verb-ing            + Object)
             (Was                 they            making       a cake on Sunday?)
Were They/We/You Making a cake on Sunday?
Was He/She Taking too much tea?
Was I Visiting my aunt’s home?
Was It Raining in Brazil daily?

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.