The past long time. Past Continuous (Past Progressive). Past Continuous - past long time: everything you need to know

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)

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In this article, we will look at the past long tense in English. We call all past tenses in English Past Tenses, the difference of which is only in their duration or quality: whether it will be simple past - Past Simple, long past - Past Continuous or past perfect - Past perfect. In this article, let's stop and look at Past Continuous Tense.

Past continuous is a tense that is used to describe a continuous action in the past. Basically, this is a process that lasted at a certain moment or period in the past. The moment of action must be clearly defined, or be understandable in the context of the proposal.

Formation of affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous

When I came to London, it was raining. When I arrived in London, it was raining. Martin was studying history from three till eight o'clock. From three to eight o'clock Martin taught history. Lisa was cooking the pancakes, when I entered the kitchen. Lisa was making pancakes when I entered the kitchen.

Examples of negative sentences in the past continuous tense

He wasn't sleeping all the night. He didn't sleep all night. They weren't having a class at this time yesterday We didn't have a class at this time yesterday. Last year she wasn't eating fat food as she was on diet. Last year she didn't eat fatty food because she was on a diet.

Examples of affirmative sentences in the past continuous tense

Was Kate listening to the professor at the lecture? Did Kate listen to the professor during the lecture? How long were they traveling round Russia? How long did they travel around Russia? What kind of music was George playing when I entered the room? What music was George playing when I entered the room? What were you doing at five o'clock? I was searching the web. What were you doing at five o'clock? Sat on the Internet.

Using the Past Continuous

Time Indicators (time indicators)

All the time all day long at seven o'clock yesterday the whole Friday during the film from three till eight o'clock

Examples of using sentences in the Past Continuous

I was reading an interesting article at 6 pm yesterday evening. I was reading an interesting article at 6 pm yesterday. My parents were staying in Rome for three months. My parents stayed in Rome for three months. We went to the country. The sun was shining, the birds were singing. We drove out of town. The sun was shining, the birds were singing.

Watch video on Past Continuous tense

affirmative form

Subject + was/were + Infinitive without to ending -ing

1. We were talking to each other when Sam suddenly interrupted us - We were talking to each other when Sam suddenly interrupted us.

talking - infinitive without to ending -ing

2. Yesterday at 2 o "clock I was having lunch with my friend - Yesterday at 2 o'clock I had lunch with my friend.

having - infinitive without to ending -ing

3. I burnt my finger when I was cooking dinner - I burned my finger when I was cooking dinner.

was - auxiliary verb to be in Past Simple in the singular form
cooking - infinitive without to ending -ing

negative form

Subject + was/were + not + Infinitive without to ending -ing

1. I was not using my computer when Emily took it - I did not use my computer when Emily took it.

was - auxiliary verb to be in Past Simple in the singular form
not - negative particle
using - infinitive without to ending -ing

2. They were not listening to the teacher when he asked this question - They were not listening to the teacher when he asked this question.

were - auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in the plural form
not - negative particle
listening - infinitive without to ending -ing

3. Yesterday at 10 o "clock at night Anthony still was not sleeping - Yesterday at 10 o'clock in the evening, Anthony was still not sleeping.

was - auxiliary verb to be in Past Simple in the singular form
not - negative particle

Interrogative form

was/were + Subject + Infinitive without to ending -ing

1. Were you working last week at this time? Were you working at this time last week?

were - an auxiliary verb that stands in place before subject to form a question
working - infinitive without to ending -ing

2. What was he doing when you came to visit him? What was he doing when you came to visit him?

after the question word what and before subject
doing - infinitive without to ending -ing

3. Where was the cat sleeping when you were looking for it? Where was the cat sleeping when you were looking for it?

was is an auxiliary verb that stands after the question word where and before subject
sleeping - infinitive without to ending -ing
were - auxiliary verb to be in the Past Simple in the plural form
looking - infinitive without to ending -ing

#2 Cases of using Past Continuous

1. To express an action that was in the process of being completed at a certain moment in the past. This moment may be determined by time or by another action in the past.

I saw this ad when I was watching TV last night - I saw this ad when I was watching TV last night. (the action expressed by Past Continuous (was watching) started in the past and continued at the moment when another action happened (saw), expressed by Past Simple)
Yesterday at 5 o "clock he was writing his essay - Yesterday at 5 o'clock he wrote an essay. (the action expressed by Past Continuous (was writing) began in the past and was at the time of completion at a certain time in the past (yesterday at 5 o "clock ))

2. To express a prolonged action that continued at a certain time in the past, although not necessarily continuously during this period of time.

During her probation my sister was driving to work - During her probation, my sister drove to work by car. (action expressed Past Continuous (was driving) continued at a certain time in the past (during her probation), although not necessarily continuously during this period of time)
In August they were preparing to relocate - In August they were preparing to move. (the action expressed by Past Continuous (were preparing) continued at a certain time in the past (in August), although not necessarily continuously during this period of time)

3. To express two actions that happened in the past at the same time. Note that Past Simple can also be used in this situation.

My mother was washing up the dishes while I was doing my homework - My mother was washing the dishes while I was doing my homework. (two actions in the past expressed by Past Continuous (was washing up and was doing) happened at the same time in the past)
Some were swimming in the lake while others were lying in the sun - Some were swimming in the lake while others were sunbathing. (two actions expressed by Past Continuous (were swimming and were lying) happened at the same time in the past)

The rules for using Past Continuous (Past Progressive Tense, or the past long time) seem quite complicated to many. Actually it is not. Today's lesson will help you understand once and for all when we use the past long tense in English.

The Past Continuous form is formed in almost the same way as the Present Continuous, with the only difference being that the verb to be has the form of the past tense.

Education Past Progressive

The Past Continuous education scheme is as follows:

Let's take the verb to work as an example and conjugate it into the Past Continuous:

The conjugation of any verb will look the same. The difference lies only in the formation of the gerund (ing form). In some cases it will be different.

The past continuous tense describes unfinished (unfinished) actions or events in the past. It's not entirely clear yet, so let's take a closer look.

Use Past Continuous (Past Progressive)

1. Interrupted actions in the past

The Past Continuous Tense is used to show that a continuous action in the past has been interrupted. Since interruption is a relatively short action, it is conveyed through the Past Simple form. The word "interruption" does not always mean the actual termination of the action. Sometimes it means simply the imposition of one event (action) in time on another, when a short action, expressed in Past Simple, breaks into a long, unfinished action, as it were.

When the phone rank, I was writing a letter.- When the phone rang, I was writing a letter.

While Kate was sleeping, someone stole her car. While Kate was sleeping, someone stole her car.

I was waiting for her when she got off the plane.- I was waiting for her (met) when she got off the plane.

When the fire started I was watching television. When the fire started, I was watching TV.

In such cases, it is also possible to specify a specific time:

At six o'clock, I was working. I worked at six o'clock.

Yesterday at 8 PM, we were eating dinner. We had dinner at 8 o'clock yesterday evening.

At midnight, we were still watching TV. We were still watching TV at midnight.

IMPORTANT:

The Simple Past is used when specifying a specific time to show when the action started or ended, but with the Past Continuous the situation is somewhat different. Let's see an example:

Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner. (I started supper at 6 o'clock.)
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. (I started dinner earlier, and at 6 o'clock I was in the process.)

2. Parallel events

She was reading while he was making dinner. She was reading while I was preparing dinner.

What were you doing while you were waiting? What were you doing while you were waiting?

When two actions or events in the Past Continuous are indicated in one sentence, this means that these actions (events) occur simultaneously (in parallel).

3. Story in the past tense

Past Continuous can be found in narratives written in the past tense. In this case, any background events are described using this time. Let's see an example:

In the example, you will notice several situations where the Past Continuous is used. As you can see, these are events that have a certain duration (length): the sun was shining, the birds were singing, she was looking for her child, and so on. If you decide to write your own story in English, then this lesson will help you a lot. At the same time, note that in such cases, Past Continuous is used in conjunction with Past Simple.

It can also be said that with the help of the past long time, the so-called atmosphere that reigned in a certain place at a certain time is described.

4. Past habits

Past Progressive is also used when describing any habits (most often annoying) in the past. Words can be indicators of such sentences. always, constantly, forever, at that time, in those days. In Present Continuous there is also such a rule, but for the present time.

He was constantly talking.“He talked all the time.

She was always coming to class late. She was always late for lessons.

I didn't like his friend because he was always complaining. I didn't like his friend because he complained all the time.

5. Finally, we use the past continuous tense when we want to emphasize that some event or action lasted for some long time. This is often indicated by expressions such as all day, all night, for hours and so on.

We were working all day.— We worked all day.

I was preparing for the exam all evening. I have been preparing for the exam all evening.

A few more specific cases of using Past Progressive Tense

1. When a person changed his mind and changed plans (in the construction was / were going to):

I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've decided to get my homework done instead. I wanted to spend the whole day at the beach, but I decided to do my homework instead.

2. With a verb to wonder to form polite requests:

I was wondering if you could give me your e-mail address.

while and when

When we talk about the past using when and while, then when is usually followed by Past Simple, while while is followed by the Past Continuos form, because while is translated as “during the time as”, “while”, that is, it implies lengthy process. The following two examples have exactly the same translation, but pay attention to the use of the past tense - they are different from each other.

He was studying when his mother called.
While he was studying, his mother called.

Remember that some verbs are not used in the continuous form. That is, instead of Past Continuous, such verbs are used in Past Simple:

I was being at my house when she came. Not properly!
I was at my house when she came. Correctly

Active and passive form:

Assets: The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. The shop assistant was helping the customer when a thief entered the store.

Passive: The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store.

Brief scheme of using Past Progressive:

These were all the rules for using the past long tense. Don't forget to practice using English tenses and come up with your own examples to reinforce the material.

Hello my dear readers.

If you doubt your knowledge of such an important tense as the Past Continuous, then today's lesson is for you. Past Continuous: Rules and Examples is the topic of today's lesson.

You will learn how to form a form correctly, all the necessary rules, and see examples of all possible ways to use time. Also, not for greater difficulty, but for your careful study, I will give you the rule in both Russian and English.

Icons used in this article:

V+ing (Ving)- English verb of the first form with the ending -ing.

Rule of time formation

The affirmative form of tense is formed as follows:

Subject + was/were + Ving

She was making pizza at that moment. She was cooking pizza at that time.

Of course, it is often necessary to form negative sentences. In this case, to auxiliary verbs was/were a particle is added not.

She wasn't making pizza at that moment. She wasn't cooking pizza at that time.