Past Continuous Tense

The Past Continuous Tense is often used to represent acts that started in history and frequently lasted for a short length of time after the activity began. Past Continuous Tense refers to activities that occurred in the past till a certain point in time tense was used to describe a former activity. For example:

I was working.

You were dancing.

It was raining last night.

Use of Past Continuous Tense

We use the Past Continuous Tense to illustrate what someone was performing at a certain point in point in history. For Example, I was playing cricket at this time yesterday.

Past Continuous Tense express acts which started in the past and lasted for a shorter time after they started. This refers to activities that occurred at some point in history. These activities are often not taking place at the time the statement is made or published.

Formula- Sub.+ were/was + Verb 1 + ing + object

•       I (Sub.) was taking (1st form of the verb+ ing) bath (object) when the phone rang
•       The kids (Subject) were playing(1st form of the verb+ ing) in the garden (object) when it suddenly began to rain

When to use “Was/Were”

•       Was used for third-person singular (she, he, it) and first-person singular (I)
•       Were   used for the 2nd person plural & singular ( your, yours, you) and third & first-person plural (they, we )

Verbs are used to describe acts or conditions of being. We employ thousands of phrases, and all come in a variety of conjugating verbs. The verb’s tense indicates whenever it happened or even when that’s in a given condition. We’ll look more closely at a very adaptable verb tense right now: the past progressive tense, also known as the past continuous tense.

For example, He was doing his homework at 7’o Clock.

Mars was watching the dogs until they ran away.

The past continuous tense can also be used to refer to two or more activities that occurred at the same moment in the past.

For example, Jacky was playing TV games while his mother was cooking.

  The train was moving fast.

Types of sentences in the Past Continuous Tense

1.     Negative Sentences
2.     Affirmative Sentences
3.     Interrogative Negative Sentences
4.     Interrogative Sentences

Affirmative Sentences

      Rule-

•       I/She/It/He/Noun+ Was+ Verb 1st form+ ing+ object      
•       They/We/You+ Were+ Verb 1st form+ ing + object

Formula- Sub.+ was/were + Verb 1+ ing+ obj.+etc.

Examples

•       Anas was writing a letter to his father.
•       You were running in the garden.
•       They were going for a picnic.
•       She was meeting her friends after school.
•       The girls were reading in the class.
•       The dogs were barking in tonight.

Negative Sentences

To frame a negative sentence, we are adding not after as were.

Rule-

•       Singular Number- I/She/he/it/noun +was + not  + Verb 1st form+ ing
•       Plural Number- They/We/You +were not + Verb 1+ ing

Formula- Sub + were/was + Not + Verb 1 +ing + obj.+ etc.

Examples

•       They were not eating dinner right now.
•       Shine was not playing with her doll.
•       I was not going to the temple with my friends.
•       We were not going to college today.
•       The children were not laughing at the old man.
•       Jack was not taking selfies with his friends.

Interrogative Sentences

There are two types of interrogative sentences one which starts with the helping verb of the tenses and another which starts with WH words (What, Where, Why, How, When, Which).

Rule-

• were /was + Sub. + Verb 1+ ing + obj. + etc +?

Formula- What/Where/Why/How/When/Which + were/ was+ Sub. + Verb 1+ ing + obj. + etc +? 

Examples 

•       Was I writing a letter?
•       Were they listening to the teacher?
•       What was she doing in the room?
•       Whose book was he reading now?
•       Why were they learning his lessons?
•       Who was sleeping in the class?

Interrogative-Negative Sentences

There are two types of interrogative-negative sentences one which starts with the helping verb of the tenses and another which starts with WH words like (What, Where, Why, How, When, Which, Whose).

Rule-

• were/was+ Sub. + not+Verb 1+ ing + obj. + etc +?

Formula- What/Where/Why/How/When/Which+ were/was+ Sub. + not+Verb 1+ ing + obj. + etc +? 

Examples

• Was I not working in the office?
• Were you not going to the market today?
• Was she not talking to her classmates?
• Where were we not going today?
• Why were they not playing with us?
• How were you not cooking food?
• Were you not playing?

Conclusion

The Past Continuous Tense is used to portray historical activities or occurrences that persisted for a short period just after the activity began. The Past Continuous Tense refers to activities that occurred in the past till a certain point in time. This tense is used to describe a former activity. The Past Continuous Tense can be used to describe an activity that consistently occurred in the past.