Past continuous. Tense and it’s usage

1.

PAST CONTINUOUS
TENSE AND IT’S USAGE

2.

What is the past
continuous tense?
The past continuous tense shows a continuous action that began in the past.
The past continuous tense formula involves the past tense of to be (was or were) and
the present participle of the verb, the –ing form.
[was/were] + [Ving]
Example: While I was studying, my friends were playing.
Use was for first- or third-person singular subjects, such as I, he, she, or it.
Use were for all other subjects, including all plural subjects and the singular
second-person subject, you.

3.

VERBS YOU CANNOT USE IN
THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
There is a certain type of verb that cannot be used in
any continuous tense, including the past continuous
tense. These are called stative verbs, also known as
state-of-being verbs or, fittingly, non-continuous verbs
Some of the most common
examples of stative verbs include:
BELIEVE
LIKE
Stative verbs are less like actions and more
like states or feelings. They describe continual
states of mind, such as opinions, needs, or
awareness
INVOLVE
DISLIKE
NEED
SEEM
LOVE
KNOW
HATE
PREFER
REALIZE
WANT
UNDERSTAND

4.

Because stative verbs are inherently continuous,
it sounds odd to put them in a continuous tense.
Avoid using the above words in the past
continuous—you can use them in the simple past
instead

5.

EXAMPLES OF USING PAST
CONTINUOUS
One of the most common uses of the past
continuous tense shows a past action that was
interrupted by another past action. These are
often complex sentences featuring
subordinating conjunctions like when, while,
before, after, until, or whenever.
Example: I was working as a driver in May.

6.

EXAMPLES OF USING PAST
CONTINUOUS
An action in the past that
gets interrupted
When you mention an exact time in
the past, use the past continuous
tense if the action started before
that time and continued afterward.
Example: I was working as a driver in May.

7.

EXAMPLES OF USING PAST
CONTINUOUS
Use the past continuous tense to talk about an
action that used to be done frequently in the past
but is not done in the present. This form is usually
used with adverbs and adverb phrases,
continually
specifically ones that suggest the action
was
done a lot, like those listed below:
all the time
always
perpetually
constantly
An action in the past that
gets interrupted
Ongoing actions at a
specified time
continually forever
the entire time
You can also use the main adverbs of frequency (rarely, seldom, sometimes,
occasionally, often, frequently, usually).
Example: During my first grammar lesson, I was making spelling mistakes all the
time.

8.

EXAMPLES OF USING PAST
CONTINUOUS
Another reason we use the past
continuous tense is to express that
two actions or states were
happening at the exact same time.
Example: The girls were jogging
while the boys were climbing rope.
An action in the past that
gets interrupted
Ongoing actions at a
specified time
Habitual actions in
the past

9.

EXAMPLES OF USING PAST
CONTINUOUS
You can also use the past continuous tense to
emphasize how long an action took and
highlight just how much time was spent doing
it. This form usually uses adverb phrases that
explain the length of time, such as:
An action in the past that
gets interrupted
all morning/afternoon/evening
all day/night
all week/month/ year
for hours/days/weeks/months/years
the whole time
Example: I was trying to finish my assignment all evening.
Ongoing actions at a
specified time
Habitual actions in
the past
Two actions,
same time

10.

EXAMPLES OF USING PAST
CONTINUOUS
When you use a subordinate clause (such
as a clause starting with when) with
another action.
The past continuous tense means the
action started before the other action.
Example: When the telephone
ran, I was doing my chores.
An action in the past that
gets interrupted
Ongoing actions at a
specified time
Habitual actions in
the past
Two actions,
same time
Emphasizing how long
a past action took

11.

THANKS FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!!!!!
Info: Sasha
Juicy presentation: Kate