TABLE OF CONTENT
Definition
Different uses
Structure
Assignments
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE / PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
IT’S ME PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Hello everyone,
I hope the explanation of the Present Continuous Tense is clear to all of you. Hope you practiced the exercises and quizzes as well to check your knowledge and understand how much you have learned.
Today I, Past Continuous Tense, am here to explain to you how I can be helpful to all of you. But before that, I would suggest you learn Simple Past with its ‘ to be’ form if you have not learned. And If it is clear to you, let’s continue with my journey.
Now, first, let me introduce you to my second name. I am also known as Past Progressive Tense as well. I often express the actions, that were in progress in the recent past or the distant past and had been finished by the time of speaking. Understand with some of my examples:-
1. It was raining hard early morning. ( Recent Past )
2. What were you doing when the guest arrived? ( Recent Past )
3. When the king was returning from the jungle, he met a saint. ( Distant Past)
Thus you can define me in the following way:-
DEFINITION
“ Past Indefinite is the tense that helps us to make the statements that were in progress in
the recent past or the distant past and had been finished by the time of speaking.”
Now, if ever you have to recognize me in any of the statements, you can Simply recognize me with the following key features-
Key Features / Recognition
a. Actions that were in the process before some time ago or very long ago
b. Nobody knows when the actions had begun but had been finished by the time of speaking.
b. It shows the actions also going to take place shortly.
Now let’s continue how I can be helpful in other ways:-
WHEN TO USE
1. Interrupted actions in past
The first use of mine is connected with the interference of some actions. First, read these examples-
a. I heard a sudden noise outside when I was going to sleep.
b. When I was sipping my cool drink, Shivam entered the room.
In all the above sentences, you can observe that they have two clauses each and in each sentence, one action was interrupted by another action. In eg a. when a person was going to sleep, he heard a sudden nose. In eg. 2 Someone entered the room suddenly when Shivam was having his cold drink. . Ok now let’s move to the next one-
2. Parallel Actions
I help in framing two clauses of parallel actions. See how:-
a. I was studying while my sister was dancing.
b. I was solving my mathematics exercises and listening to music at the same time.
c. I saw her cooking and dancing together.
Next one-
3. Temporary Habitual but irritating actions
I can help you in framing the statements when you have to express anyone’s irritating actions that have been their habit for a while. . Have a look at these sentences:-
a. Amit was punished today as he was constantly talking in the class.
b. I couldn’t handle the situation as she
was going on crying.
c. Samridahi complained against the boys because they were teasing her continuously.
Further, I help you when you had entered a particular surrounding and you have to show
the ongoing past actions
4. Showing the atmosphere or ‘ ongoing ‘ past actions.
When I entered my home I found, my mother was cooking, my sister was studying, and my brother was watching a movie.
When I arrived at the station, I noticed that train was whistling, my brother was running to catch the train and my mother was calling me with a question in her eyes why I had been late
Now see the last use-
5. For showing time duration for any past ongoing action.
When you have to show the fixed time duration in your statement, I help you there also.
STRUCTURE
Structure
Affirmative
Subject + was/were + V4 (V1st +ing ) + Object.
Singular Subject- was
Plural Subject-were
- I was crying hard on his untimely death.
- He was playing well.
- Nishi was catching the bus.
- We were talking in the class
Negative
Subject+ was/were+ not + V4 (V1st +ing ) + Object.
- Ashwin was not participating in the debate.
- The boys were not playing chess well.
INTERROGATIVE
Interrogative Statements-
Type-1
was/were + subject + V4 (V1 + ing )+ object
Were you listening to me at that time ?
Was she waiting for you yesternight. ?
Interrogative Statements-
Type 2
‘Wh’ family word + was/were+ subject + V4 (V1 + ing )+ object
When was Dushyant disturbing him ?
Why were you not watching the movie ?
Interrogative Statements- type -3
How much/ how many + related noun+was/were + subject + V4 (V1 + ing ) + object
How many bottles of juice are you buying for the party?
How much water are you having in your water bottle ?
Interrogative Negative Statement
In such conditions be attentive of only one thing.
—Subject+ Not —
The remaining part of the structure will be the same. Only add NOT after the Subject.
Example-
was Kavi not attending the class?
Why were you not joining us?
How much water were you not having within 24 hours?
HOMEWORK
Notice all the people around and write 10 actions they were doing yesterday at this time.
ALSO LEARN
Thank you so much sir for weblogging my post 🙂