Transcript The past continuous

The Past Continuous
What is the function of
the past continuous?
• Describe a continuous action that happened
in the past.
I was reading a book
• Describe a continuous action that was
interrupted by another action.
I was washing my hair when the phone rang.
• Describe two continuous and simultaneous
actions in the past.
While I was calling my friend, my brother was talking to my mother.
Timeline:
1) Describing a continuous event in
the past:
Timeline:
2) Describing a continuous event in
the past that was interrupted by
another event:
What happened first?
Max was sleeping
What happened next?
The phone rang.
Past
continuous
form
longer action
Past simple
form
short action
Timeline:
While I was calling my friend
PAST
my brother was talking to my mother
NOW
3) Describing two past and continuous actions
taking place simultaneously!
was calling
Both are past
continuous!
was talking
Past Continuous Form
Just like the present continuous
form (remember the glasses?),
the past continuous form uses
the helping verb “to be” - - but
in the past…
Past Continuous Form:
POSITIVE
• Subject + was/were + verb + ing
I was drinking coffee.
NEGATIVE
• Subject + was/were + not + verb + ing
I was not drinking coffee.
I was drinking coffee
subject
verb + ing
to be (past)
I was not drinking coffee.
subject
NOT
to be (past)
verb + ing
Yes/No Questions
• When we ask yes/no questions using
the past continuous, the verb (to
be) comes first:
was / were
Yes/ no questions:
• Was she thinking about it?
• Were they climbing the mountain?
Was/were + subject + verb + ing
WH questions
• When we ask a WH question using
the past progressive, the WH word
comes first.
What were they doing?
Why was she eating?
When was she drinking?
Where was he going?
Time Expressions
‫כאשר‬
• When = past simple
• The past simple follows the use of the
word “when” in a sentence.
interrupted by
another action
Continuous action
I was taking a shower when the phone rang.
When
rang = past simple
Long action
Short action
• I was taking a shower
when the phone rang.
Long action
• When I was taking a shower, the phone
rang.
Short action
Time Expressions
....‫בזמן ש‬
• While or as = past progressive
• The past progressive is used after
expressions such as while or as.
While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.
Two actions going on at the same time
Past Continuous Humor
John Lennon
Jealous Guy