Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Tense

FORMATION

AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + HV (was / were) + Ving + Object.
NEGATIVE: Subject + HV (was / were) + not + Ving + Object.
INTERROGATIVE: HV (was / were) + Subject + Ving + Object ?
WH-QUESTION; Wh- word + HV (was / were) + Subject + Ving + Object ?

• In this tense in affirmative sentences with the singular subject use helping verbs ‘was’, with the plural subjects use ‘were’. Use 1st form + ing with all the subjects
• In negative sentences ‘not’ will take place just after the helping verb.
• In interrogative sentences helping verbs ‘was’, ‘were’ will take place before the subject.USES

1. To denote an action which was in progress at a time of time in the past:
(i) What were you doing in the garden yesterday?
(ii) The boys were flying kites.
(iii) At eight o’clock during the night Naveen was doing his homework.
(iv) The girls were playing in the park.
(v) She was having her breakfast at 8 a.m. yesterday.

2. To denote an action that was in the progress when another took place. (i) When I saw him she was playing chess.
(ii) I was writing a letter when he came to my house.

3. To describe two actions continuing at the same time in the past. In such sentences we use ‘’when or while’ as conjunction: (i) He was reading while his brother was playing in the garden.

4. To show gradual development of a happening: (i) It was getting dark.
(ii) The child was growing like a memosa tree.

5. This tense is also used with the adverbs like – always, continually, constantly indicating the frequent repetition of an action. Such statements are not liked by the speaker. (i) The servant was continually asking for a hike in salary.
(ii) She was always quarreling with her husband.
(iii) Those students were constantly asking foolish questions.
(iv) He was always troubling his parents.