The Past Continuous

What is the function of the past continuous? Describe a continuous action that happened in the past. Describe a continuous action that was interrupted by another action. Describe two continuous and simultaneous actions in the past. I was reading a book I was washing my hair when the phone rang. While I was calling my friend, my brother was talking to my mother.

Timeline: 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? Past continuous form Max was sleeping longer action What happened next? Past simple form The phone rang. short action

Long action = past continuous Short action = past simple

Both are past continuous! Timeline: While I was calling my friend my brother was talking to my mother NOW PAST 3) Describing two past and continuous actions taking place simultaneously! Both are past continuous! was calling 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…

I was not drinking coffee. Past Continuous Form: POSITIVE Subject + was/were + verb + ing Subject + was/were + not + verb + ing I was drinking coffee. NEGATIVE I was not drinking coffee.

I was not drinking coffee. I was drinking coffee I was not drinking coffee. subject verb + ing to be (past) subject NOT to be (past) verb + ing

was / were 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/were + subject + verb + ing 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 When = past simple 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

When I was taking a shower, the phone rang. Long action Short action I was taking a shower when the phone rang. When I was taking a shower, the phone rang. Long action Short action

While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes. 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