1. The Past Continuous

2. 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.

3. Timeline:
Describing a continuous event in the past:

4. Timeline:
2) Describing a continuous event in the past that was interrupted by another event:

5. 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

6. Long action = past continuous
Short action = past simple

7. 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

8. 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…

9. 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.

10. 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

11. was / were Yes/No Questions
When we ask yes/no questions using the past continuous, the verb (to be) comes first:
was / were

12. Yes/ no questions: Was/were + subject + verb + ing
Was she thinking about it?
Were they climbing the mountain?
Was/were + subject + verb + ing

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Past Continuous Humor

18. John Lennon
Jealous Guy