In English we use the past continuous to talk about an action taking place during a period of time in the past. We usually use it with past simple.
The table below shows the different forms of past continuous :
Example verb : study | I / He / She / It | You / We / They |
Positive | ... was studying. | ... were studying. |
Negative | ... wasn't studying. | ... weren't studying. |
Questions | Was ... studying? | Were ... studying? |
Short answers | Yes, ... was. / No, ... wasn't. | Yes, ... were. / No, ... weren't. |
In English we use the past continuous to show that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the past simple. This can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Past Continuous Examples Sentences :
Positive Examples of Past Continuous :
Negative Examples of Past Continuous :
Question Examples of Past Continuous :
In English we can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples Sentences :
When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it means that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples Sentences :
Past continuous example sentences | |
---|---|
Hm, why was he begging the fairy to turn him into a real kid then? | Hum, então por que é que ele pediu à fada para o transformar em um garoto verdadeiro? |
I was just trying to be more realistic! | Eu estava tentando ser mais realista! |
The other day, you complained about how loud I was snoring. | No outro dia, você se queixou de como eu roncava alto. |
Yes, I already made myself a coffee while you were sleeping. | Sim, eu já preparei um café para mim quando você estava dormindo. |
She was in the kitchen, too, preparing something to cook. | Ela também estava na cozinha, preparando algo para comer. |
Oh, I see, she was talking about it last night! | Oh, estou vendo, ela estava falando nisso a noite passada! |
Thank god you weren't looking for red wine! | Ainda bem que você não estava comprando vinho tinto! |
First she started to mumble about how long my cooking was taking. | Primeiro, ela começou resmungando sobre o tempo que eu estava demorando a cozinhar. |
I can't believe it, I was planning to sleep till 9 today! | Eu não acredito, eu estava a planejar dormir até às 9 hoje! |
That's what I was planning. | Era o que estava planeando fazer. |
Alright Nick, what were you saying? | Muito bem, Nick, o que você estava dizendo? |
Really? What was she saying? | Sério? O que estava dizendo ela? |
It sounds like she was having a mental breakdown. | Parece que ela estava sofrendo de um colapso nervoso. |
Noone was paying attention to your "precious" bag. | Ninguém estava prestando atenção a seu "precioso" saco. |
Once when Bear was little, we were walking along a dark street... | Uma vez, quando o Bear era bebê, nós estavamos andando por um rua escura... |
And the girls were too busy ordering. | E as raparigas estavam muito ocupadas pedindo. |
How did you know you were knocking on the right door? | Como você sabia que estava batendo na porta certa? |
Yes, sorry, I was thinking of getting stock powder at the shop. | Sim, desculpe, eu estava pensando comprar caldo de frango em pó no supermercado. |
I think she definitely understood I was lying! | Acho que ela percebeu que eu estava mentindo! |
I ran inside to check what was happening... | Eu corri para o interior para verificar o que tinha acontecido... |