DK Grammar Guide

32

The past continuous is used in English to talk about actions

or events that were in progress at some time in the past. It is

formed with “was” or “were” and a present participle.

The past continuous

English uses the past

continuous to talk about

ongoing actions that were

in progress at a certain

time in the past.

The past continuous

shows the action went

on for some time, but

is now finished.

THE PAST CONTINUOUS

See also:

Past simple 7

Infinitives and participles 51

Past simple shows the action

happened once and is now finished.

11: 3 0 A M 12: 0 0 PM 12:30PM

FURTHER EXAMPLES

Past continuous describes

a continuing action.

HOW TO FORM

“Was” or “were” followed by the present participle form the past continuous.

“Was” or “were” is used

depending on the subject.

“-ing ” is added

to the main verb.

SUBJECT “WAS / WERE” VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

032-033_Unit_10_The_Past_Continuous.indd 32 02/09/2016 12:50

33

THE PAST CONTINUOUS AND THE PAST SIMPLE

FURTHER EXAMPLES

When English uses the past continuous and past simple together, the

past continuous describes a longer, background action, and the past

simple describes a shorter action that interrupts the background action.

CONTINUING BACKGROUND ACTION INTERRUPTING MAIN ACTION

The past continuous is often used in storytelling

to set a scene or describe a situation.

THE PAST CONTINUOUS FOR SCENE-SETTING

032-033_Unit_10_The_Past_Continuous.indd 33 25/07/2016 12:55