Past continuous: Form and use

1. Past continuous

3. Past continuous tense AFFIRMATIVE: Play were You We They was He She It play ing was I

4. Past continuous tense INTERROGATIVE: Play NEGATIVE: Play Were Was Was Were you we they he she it play ing ? I you He She It You We They I was not wasn’t were not weren’t play ing was not wasn’t

6. W e use the past continuous tense to describe a past action over a period of time " What were you doing yesterday at 8 0’clock ?" “ I w as working all day. 8 am 8 pm

7. To describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past The farmer was working at 6 o’clock yesterday evening The farmer / work / at 6 o’clock yesterday evening

8. This time yesterday the hairdresser was working This time yesterday / the hairdresser /work To describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past

9. Was the teacher explaining grammar at school last Monday? No, she wasn’t . She was explaining Geography. explain grammar at school last Monday / the teacher? No // explain Geography

11. To talk about an action that was in progress when a second action happened The policeman broke his ankle while he was running after the dog

12. 7 am 7.20 am I was having a shower, when the phone rang .

15. TIME EXPRESSIONS Past Continuous Grandad was sleeping yesterday AT 8 o’clock… I was trying to fly WHEN it began to rain… When I was working, the police arrived… WHILE Bart was playing, someone stole his money… Moe was working WHILE Homer was skating…