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Understanding Past Continuous Tense

The document provides information about using the past continuous tense to describe actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. It discusses how the past continuous is used to describe unfinished actions happening at a particular time in the past, or two simultaneous actions. Examples are given to illustrate using time expressions like "at" or "while" with the past continuous.

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Susana Dias
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51 views13 pages

Understanding Past Continuous Tense

The document provides information about using the past continuous tense to describe actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. It discusses how the past continuous is used to describe unfinished actions happening at a particular time in the past, or two simultaneous actions. Examples are given to illustrate using time expressions like "at" or "while" with the past continuous.

Uploaded by

Susana Dias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

They WERE PLAYING

tennis at 11.40 yesterday.


Form: was / were + V-ing
(+) was/were + vb-ing
I was studying English.
(-) was/were + not + vb-ing
I was not studying English.

(?) was/were + subject + vb-ing?


Were you studying English? Yes, I was//No, I wasnt.
Where were you studying English? I was studying
English at home.
Use:
1.- Actions in progress at a particular
time in the past
He was watching TV at 8 pm yesterday.

He started watching TV before 8 pm yesterday. At 8


pm, he was in the middle of watching TV. He continued
watching TV after 8 pm.

YESTERDAY

at 7 pm at 8 pm at 9 pm
What were you doing this time
last night?

I was working on my computer.


2.- Two actions in progress happening at
the same time in the past.

At 1.15 pm, Sarah was


listening to music and her
brother was studying.

The actions are simultaneous.


The teacher was talking
and the students were
listening.
While the childrenwere playing in the park,
Sarah was reading a book.
Time expressions:
1.- AT + time, this time yesterday, this
time last night, all afternoon

This time yesterday


afternoon, they were not sitting
in the park.

They were sleepingat twelve oclock


last night.
Past Simple vs. Past Continuous:

Actions that Actions in progress


started and at a specific time in
finished in the the past. (UNFINISHED
past. (COMPLETED ACTION)
ACTION)

She was playing the


She played the
drums at twenty-five to
drums at the age of two testerday.
ten.
Past Simple + Past Continuous

Short sudden action that Long action in progress


interrupts another action. interrupted by another
action.

When Mary arrived, they were having dinner.


Past Simple + Past Continuous
WHEN + Simple Past

He was posting the letter when


he saw an accident.

WHILE // AS + Past Continuous

While he was posting the letter,


he saw an accident.
When I got up this morning, the
sun was shining.

Davidfell while he was


rollerblading.
When Tom found a treasure,
he was walking on the beach.

While my little brother was


driving home, he had an
accident.

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