PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

UNIT 6 PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT:



CONVERSATION:
Malanie : I rang at about three yesterday afternoon, but you weren’t in. I didn’t know where you were.
David : Oh, I was helping Mike. We were repairing his car. It took ages. We were working on it all afternoon.
Malanie : It was raining. I hope you weren’t doing it outside.
David : No, we were in the garage. So I didn’t get wet. But I’m afraid I got oil all over my new trousers.
Malanie : Why were you wearing your new trousers to repair a car?
David : I don’t know. I forgot I had them on.

GRAMMAR PRESENTATION;
The past continuous is the past tense of be + an -ing form. We use this tense with actions. We do not normally use it with stative verbs.
I/he/she/it was playing.
You/ we/ they were playing.
NEGATIVE QUESTION
I/he/she/it wasn’t playing. Was I/he/she/it playing?
You/we/they weren’t playing. Were you/we/they playing?

USES AND EXAMPLES
The past continuous means that at a time in the past we were in the middle of an action.
Ex: I had a wonderful dream last night. I was sitting in a park. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing. Children were playing and laughing. It was very peaceful. I didn’t want to wake up.
The past continuous is chiefly used for:
(. a past action in progress at that very moment of past time. The action began before the specific time and may or may not continue after the specific time
Ex: At eight, he was having breakfast.
Ex: I asked them to be quiet. I was trying to hear what the man was saying.
(. a continuous activity during a specified period in the past. The activity went on for the whole period.
Ex: I was working all day last Saturday.
Ex: I was reviewing my lesson between two o’clock and three
(. an action which was in progress when another action happened.
Ex: When I arrived, Tom was talking on the phone. (An action started before another past action used in the simple past and probably continued after it. The past continuous comes after as, while, or when)
Compare: - When our visitor arrived, my wife was making tea. (Duration of an action focused)
- When our visitor arrived, my wife made tea. (Completion of an action is focused)
(. two or more past actions in progress at the same time
Ex: While/ As I was reading, Linda was playing the piano.
(. used without a time expression, it can indicate gradual development.
Ex: It was getting darker.
(.with “forever, constantly, always” for a frequently repeated past action, which probably annoyed the speaker.
Ex: My uncle was always putting cigarette ends on the floor when he was with us.
The following time expressions are frequently used with this tense: a few minutes (moments) ago, at that time, then, just, still, all (evening), an hour ago, …
Note: The Simple Past of “be going to” is used to express Past Intention. This structure is also known as future in the past
Ex: I was going to do it yesterday, but I had no time.

FOCUSED PRACTICE
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the simple past or the past continuous of the verbs in brackets.
He (sleep) soundly when he (awaken – passive) by a noise. He (go) downstairs to find out what (happen). He (know) something must be wrong because the dog (bark) furiously.
I (look) for you in the theatre all evening. Where you (sit)?
When I arrived, the lecture had already started and the professor (write) on the overhead projector.
He (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind (blow).
As I (cross) the road, I (step) on a banana skin and (fall) heavily. I still (lie) on the road when I (see) a lorry approaching. Luckily, the driver (see) me and (stop) the lorry in time.
She was very extravagant. She always (buy) herself new clothes.
He watched the children for a moment. Some of them (bathe) in the sea; others (look) for shells; others (play) in the sand.
I was alone in the house at that time because Mr. Jones (work) in the garage, and Mrs. Jones (shop).
He was a little mad