THE P A S T C ON T INU OU S

HOW DO WE USE PAST CONTINUOUS?

WE USE PAST CONTINOUS TO EXPRESS AN ACTION IN PROGRESS
AT A SPECIFIC POINT IN THE PAST.
LETS SEE AN EXAMPLE
Yesterday Karen and Jim played tennis.
They started al 10.00 and finished at 11.30.
So, at 10.30 they were playing tennis.
 n o t They were
t i o n playing tennis s in
Ac shed n w a
n i c ti o s s
fi A o g r e
THEY PLAYED TENNIS
pr

10.00 10.30 11.30

LETS COMPARE
ACTION IN COMPLETED ACTION
Past continous
PROGRESS Past simple
I was walking home at I walked home after the
1.00 AM. party last night.
Kate was watching TV Kate watched TV when
when we arrived. she was ill.
STRUCTURE

I was walking home at 1.00 AM

was / were + verb -ing
STRUCTURE

I wasnt sleeping last night.

Wasnt / werent + verb -ing