27/09/2023
Past continue tense
This from of tense indicates activities that have already happened in the past and have been completed before the time of mention. These sentences are formed with the help of an auxiliary verb and giving the main verb an 'ing' ending.
*Examples* :
•You were studying when she called.
•Were you studying when she called?
•You were not studying when she called.
*Different uses*
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*Interrupted Action in the Past**
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time
*Examples:*
•I was watching TV when she called.
•When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
•While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
•What were you doing when the earthquake started?
•I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
•You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
•While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
•Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
•While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.
*Specific Time as an Interruption*
As described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption
*Examples:*
•Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
•At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
•Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work
*IMPORTANT*
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
*Examples:*
•Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
•I started eating at 6 PM.
•Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
•I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner
