The Past Continuous

What is the function of the past continuous?
• Describe a continuous action that happened in the past.
I was reading a book
• Describe a continuous action that was interrupted by another action.
I was washing my hair when the phone rang.
• Describe two continuous and simultaneous actions in the past.
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?
Max was sleeping
What happened next?
The phone rang.
Past continuous form longer action
Past simple form short action

Timeline:
While I was calling my friend
PAST my brother was talking to my mother
NOW
3) Describing two past and continuous actions taking place simultaneously!
was calling
Both are past 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.
NEGATIVE
• Subject + was/were + not + verb + ing
I was not drinking coffee.

I was drinking coffee subject to be (past) verb + ing
I was not drinking coffee.
subject to be (past)
NOT verb + ing

Yes/No Questions
• When we ask yes/no questions using the past continuous, the verb (to be) comes first:

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
רשאכ
• When = past simple
• The past simple follows the use of the word “when” in a sentence.
Continuous action interrupted by 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
....
ש ןמזב
• 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

Past Continuous Humor

John Lennon
Jealous Guy