GRAMMAR LESSON FOUR: Past continuous

Hi everyone!

Today's grammar post is the Past continuous, for those of you who want to have a look at it. So here it goes, past continuous:


We 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.



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.


It's important to know that in the past continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action, it doesn't indicate the moment when it started or when it finished. 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.)

In affirmative, it is formed with the past of the verb "To be" and the gerund form (-ING ending) of the principal verb. Examples:

I was watching TV when she called.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

In negative, we use the negative form of the verb "To do" in past tense and the gerund (-ING ending) of the principal verb. Examples:


I wasn't watching TV when she called.
We were't having lunch yesterday at 3:00 PM
Sammy wasn't waiting for us when we got off the plane.
When the phone rang, she wasn't writing a letter.


The interrogative is formed using the verb "To do" in its past tense at the beginning of the question and the principal verb in gerund (-ING ending). Examples:

Was I watching TV when she called?
Were we having lunch yesterday at 3:00 PM?
Was Sammy waiting for us when we got off the plane?
When the phone rang, Was she writing a letter?

Parallel actions

When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel. Examples:

I was studying while he was making dinner.
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
Were you listening while he was talking?
I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
What were you doing while you were waiting?
Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

Let's see the use of the past continuous with some videos:

Suburgatory, Episode 1x02: I'M STUCK, SAVE YOURSELF!

TESSA
It took me a couple of weeks,

but I finally found my favorite things
to do in suburbs:

Sleep

GEORGE

Tessa, what're you doing?

Let's go before she gets here.

TESSA

She's still watering?

GEORGE

Still watering

Why didn't you set an alarm?
TESSA
I kept hitting snooze
I was having the most amazing
dream about Manhattan
GEORGE
Yeah? What was so amazing?

TESSA

We were still living there

GEORGE

I can't take it anymore...

Sheila's constant invitations
to dinner every single morning.

I'm running out of

creative ways to say no

TESSA

Have you tried running her over

with your car? That's creative.

GEORGE

Oh, no. Hose is off.

She's coming, she's coming!

TESSA

My backpack!

It's upstairs!

GEORGE

No time! Go! Go

Go, go, go, go, go, go.

I'm stuck.

Save yourself. Go!

TESSA

No, dad.

I won't leave you

GEORGE

Tessa, go, just go.

SHEILA

Well, hiya, neighbor!

Dinner tonight?

Here we have the past simple in BOLD:

TESSA (0:02)
It took me a couple of weeks,
but I finally found my favorite things
to do in suburbs:

Sleep

GEORGE (0:17)

Still watering

Why didn't you set an alarm?
TESSA
I kept hitting snooze

And the past continuous is UNDERLINED:

TESSA (0:20)
I kept hitting snooze
I was having the most amazing
dream about Manhattan
GEORGE
Yeah? What was so amazing?

TESSA

We were still living there

Here the actions are cut but the fact she was awakened, so she's not still dreaming about NYC. "She was having the most amazing dream about Manhattan when she was awakened" would be the complete sentence, an action cutting another action that was lasting in the time.

Easy A Clip: HIT THE BOOKS


RHIANNON
Let's just face it,
there is not such things
as a sexy George, alright?
George is not a sexy name.
George is what you name
your teddy bear
not the name you wanna
scream out during climax.
MR. GRIFFITH
And by that, I assume you mean?
OLIVE
The stable and self-perpetuating
end stage in the evolution
of a plant community.
RHIANNON
Right.
OLIVE
Why, what were you thinking?
MR. GRIFFITH
The same. But I don't say it out loud
lest someone get the wrong idea.
I think you know innuendo
is attached to everything these days.
RHIANNON
Innuendo? What...?
Whatever do you mean?
MR. GRIFFITH
Rhiannon, Olive, go hit the books.
They don't hit back.
Also, hugs not drugs.
Mess with the bull, get the horns.
And any other cliches
you can come up with.
OLIVE
Bye, Mr. Griffith.
RHIANNON
Bye.
OLIVE
Watch your mouth.
RHIANNON
Sorry.

Hope you like it and see you soon!