The Past Continuous

Unit: 6 c
Teacher: Gilber Cristobal
What is the function of the
past continuous?
 Describe a continuous action that happened in the past.

Describe a continuous action that was interrupted by another

was reading a book

action. I

 Describe two continuous and simultaneous actions in the past.

.I was washing my hair when the phone rang

While I was calling my friend, my brother was talking

.to my mother
Timeline:

1) Describing a continuous event in the past:

 Timeline:
2) Describing a continuous event in
the past that was interrupted
by another event:
 What happened first? Past
continuous
form
Max was sleeping
longer action
?What happened next Past simple
form
.The phone rang
short action
Timeline:

While I was calling my friend

my brother was talking to my mother

NOW
PAST

Describing two past and continuous )3

!actions taking place simultaneously

Both are past

was calling !continuous
was talking
 Past Continuous Form

Just like the present continuous

form (remember the glasses?),
the past continuous form uses
the helping verb “to be” - - but
in the past…
Past Continuous Form:
POSITIVE
 Subject + was/were + verb + ing

.I was drinking coffee

 Subject + was/were + not + verb + ing

NEGATIVE

.I was not drinking coffee

 I was drinking coffee
subject verb + ing
to be (past)

I was not drinking coffee.

subject
NOT
to be (past) verb + ing
Yes/No Questions

 When we ask yes/no questions using the past

continuous, the verb (to be) comes first:

was / were
Yes/ no questions:

 Was she thinking about it?

 Were they climbing the mountain?

Was/were + subject + verb + ing

WH questions

 When we ask a WH question using the past

progressive, the WH word comes first.

?What were they doing

?Why was she eating

?When was she drinking

?Where was he going
Time Expressions
‫כאשר‬

 When = past simple

 The past simple follows the use of the word “when” in a
sentence.

interrupted by
Continuous action
another action

.I was taking a shower when the phone rang

When rang = past simple

 Long action Short action

I was taking a shower when the phone rang.

Long action

When I was taking a shower, the phone rang.

Short action
 Time Expressions
....‫בזמן ש‬

 While or as = past progressive

 The past progressive is used after expressions such
as while or as.

.While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes

Two actions going on at the same time

 Practice 1
 Was or Were
 Decide whether to use 'was' or 'were'.
1. Boris _________  learning English.
2. They  ________ swimming in the lake.
3. Your father  ________  repairing the car.
4. I   ________ reading a magazine.
5. You   ________ packing your bag.
6. My friends   ________ watching the match on TV.
7. It   ________ raining.
8. The dog   ________ barking.
9. The children   ________ brushing their teeth.
10. Anne and Maureen   ________ singing a song.
 Exercises 2
1.I ____ ________ to my friend. ( talk)
2.He   ____ ________ the beds. ( make)
3.The boys ____ ________   the parrots. (feed)
4.We  ____ ________  breakfast at 5:30 this morning. ( have)
5.She   ____ ________ a nice skirt. (wear)
6.She   ____ ________ a cheeseburger. (not/ eat)
7.They   ____ ________ pictures. (not/ paint)
8.The teacher  ____ ________  the window. (not/ open)
9.Johnny  ____ ________  his bike. (not/ ride)
10.We   ____ ________ on the computer. (not/ work)
Exercises 3
Past Continuous Humor