The Past Progressive (Past Continuous) What? How? When? mjh_teacher

What is it? (Examples) I was studying when she called. I was carefully picking up the snake when it bit me. mjh_teacher

How do we form it? Subject + WAS/WERE + VERB+ ing + … She WAS reading a book at midnight. mjh_teacher

When do we use it? We will discuss three situations in which we use the Past Progressive. mjh_teacher

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past      mjh_teacher

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time. אנו משתמשים ב-Past Progressive כדי לדבר על פעולה ממושכת בעבר, שבמהלכה התבצעה פעולה אחרת בדרך כלל ב- Simple Past. זכרו! הפעולה האחרת אינה חייבת להפסיק את הפעולה הממושכת. mjh_teacher

I was watching TV when she called. EXAMPLES: I was watching TV when she called. When the phone rang, she was writing a letter. While we were having a picnic, it started to rain. Sally was working when Joe had the car accident. While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car. mjh_teacher

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption     mjh_teacher

While in USE 1,the Past Continuous action is interrupted by an action in the Simple Past, you can also use a specific time as an interruption. בעוד ב –USE 1 הפעולה ב-Past Progressive "נקטעת" על ידי פעולה ב- Simple Past, אפשר להשתמש גם בציון זמן ספציפי כדי "לקטוע" את הפעולה הממושכת. (At midnight, at 11AM…) mjh_teacher

EXAMPLES: Last night at 6 p. m. , I was eating dinner EXAMPLES: Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner. At midnight, we were still driving through the desert. mjh_teacher

In the Past Continuous a specific time only interrupts the action. IMPORTANT In the Simple Past a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous a specific time only interrupts the action. mjh_teacher

EXAMPLES: Last night at 6 p. m. , I ate dinner EXAMPLES: Last night at 6 p.m., I ate dinner. (I started eating at 6 p.m.) Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner. (I started earlier and at 6 p.m. I was in the process of eating dinner.) I was driving home at 11:45. I arrived home at 12:15. mjh_teacher

USE 3 Parallel Actions     mjh_teacher

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. אנו משתמשים ב-Past Progressive כדי לדבר על שתי פעולות ממושכות שהתרחשו במקביל, באותו זמן. mjh_teacher

EXAMPLES: I was studying while he was making dinner EXAMPLES: I was studying while he was making dinner. While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television. They were eating dinner, discussing their plans and having a good time. mjh_teacher

USE 4 Atmosphere (BONUS) In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere in the past. EXAMPLE: When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service. mjh_teacher

EXAMPLES: She was always coming to class late EXAMPLES: She was always coming to class late. He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone. I didn't like them because they were always complaining. mjh_teacher

IMPORTANT Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs (Check link) cannot be used in any "continuous" tenses. To express the idea of Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past. EXAMPLES: Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct mjh_teacher

ACTIVE / PASSIVE Past Continuous EXAMPLES: The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. -ACTIVE The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. -PASSIVE mjh_teacher

Repetition and Irritation with "Always“ USE 5 – (BONUS) Repetition and Irritation with "Always“      mjh_teacher

The Past Continuous with words such as always or constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression used to but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words always or constantly between "be" and "verb+ing." mjh_teacher

Time Expressions Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word when such as: "...when she called " or "...when it bit me." "פסוקית" היא קבוצת מילים שיש לה משמעות אולם לא הושלמה לכדי משפט (ללא פועל/נושא). יש פסוקיות המתחילות במילים כמו " כש.. "בזמן ש...". אלו פסוקיות זמן = Time Clauses. mjh_teacher

Time Expressions Clauses with the Past Continuous usually start with while. While expresses the idea "during the time." Study the examples below. They have the same meaning. ביטוי הזמן "while"מבטא את הרעיון של "בזמן ש..." ולאחריו נשתמש ב-Past Progressive כדי לדבר על שתי פעולות ממושכות שהתרחשו במקביל, באותו זמן. ביטוי הזמן "when" מבטא את הרעיון של "כש..." (זמן ספציפי) ולאחריו נשתמש ברוב המקרים ב- Past Simple. שימו לב לדוגמאות הבאות: mjh_teacher

EXAMPLES: I was studying when she called EXAMPLES: I was studying when she called. While I was studying, she called. mjh_teacher

When he saved he cut himself. When she bakes cakes she usually forgets to set the timer. When I came home he called me. He called me when I came home. When he called me, I came home. שימוש בביטוי הזמן "when" במשפטים מורכבים בעבר או בהווה הפשוט מצביע על כך שחלק המשפט שאחרי “when” קדם בזמן. mjh_teacher

It’s time to practice! mjh_teacher

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS: Verb Tense Exercise 3 Simple Past and Past Continuous Verb Tense Exercise 4 Simple Past and Past Continuous Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review mjh_teacher

More practice will be given in class. While you were watching this presentation, I hope you learned something. More practice will be given in class. mjh_teacher