The Past ContinuousThe 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:

1) 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?

The phone rang.

Past continuous

form

Past simple form

longer longer actionaction

short short actionaction

Timeline:

NOW

While I was calling my friend

my brother was talking to my motherPAST

3 )Describing two past and continuous actions taking place simultaneously!

was calling was talkingBoth are past Both are past continuouscontinuous!!

Past Continuous FormPast 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…

Past Continuous Form:

• Subject + was/were + verb + ing

• Subject + was/were + not + verb + ing

POSITIVE

NEGATIVE

I was drinking coffee.

I was not drinking coffee.

I was drinking coffee

I was not drinking coffee.

subject

subject

to be (past)

to be (past)

verb + ing

verb + ing

NOT

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 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?

Where was he going?

Why was she eating?

When was she drinking?

Time Expressions

• When = past simple• The past simple follows the use of the

word “when” in a sentence.

I was taking a shower when the phone rang.

Continuous actioninterrupted by another action

When rang = past simple

כאשרכאשר

• I was taking a shower when the phone rang.

•When I was taking a shower, the phone rang.

Long action Short action

Long action

Short action

Time Expressions

• 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

בזמן ש....בזמן ש....

Past Continuous Humor

John Lennon

Jealous Guy