Past Continuous

Use the Past Continuous (was/were + -ing) for an action in progress at a specific past moment, often interrupted by another action: I was reading when the phone rang.

Form: was/were + verb-ing. We use the Past Continuous for an action that was in progress at a particular time in the past: At seven o'clock I was having dinner. We often combine it with the Past Simple using when (the interruption) and while (two actions happening at the same time): I was cooking when he arrived. While she was reading, he was watching TV. It also describes background scenes in stories.

+ Subject + was/were + V-ing

• I was watching TV at eight o'clock.
• They were playing in the garden all morning.
• She was walking to school when it started to rain.

− Subject + was/were + not + V-ing

• He wasn't listening to the teacher.
• We weren't sleeping when you called.
• She wasn't working at that time.

? Was/Were + subject + V-ing?

• Were you sleeping when I called you?
• What was he doing yesterday evening?
• Was it raining when you left home?

• ENI was reading a book when the phone rang.

  KZТелефон шырылдағанда мен кітап оқып отырдым.

  RUЯ читал книгу, когда зазвонил телефон.

• ENShe was cooking dinner while her husband was watching TV.

  KZОл кешкі ас дайындап жатқанда, күйеуі теледидар көріп отырды.

  RUОна готовила ужин, пока её муж смотрел телевизор.

• ENWe were walking home when it started to rain.

  KZЖаңбыр жауа бастағанда біз үйге қарай жаяу келе жаттық.

  RUМы шли домой, когда начался дождь.

• ENThey were playing football at five o'clock yesterday.

  KZОлар кеше сағат бесте футбол ойнап жатты.

  RUВчера в пять часов они играли в футбол.

• ENWhat were you doing at midnight last night?

  KZСіз кеше түн ортасында не істеп жатырсыз?

  RUЧто ты делал вчера в полночь?

• ENHe wasn't paying attention during the lesson.

  KZОл сабақ кезінде зейін қоймай отырды.

  RUОн не слушал внимательно во время урока.

• ENWhile I was studying, my sister was sleeping.

  KZМен оқып отырғанда, қарындасым ұйықтап жатты.

  RUПока я учился, моя сестра спала.

• ENWas she working here last year?

  KZОл өткен жылы осында жұмыс істеп пе еді?

  RUОна работала здесь в прошлом году?

• ENThe sun was shining when we arrived at the beach.

  KZБіз жағажайға келгенде күн жарқырап тұрды.

  RUКогда мы приехали на пляж, светило солнце.

• ENI wasn't expecting that news at all.

  KZМен ол жаңалықты мүлдем күтпеген едім.

  RUЯ совсем не ожидал этой новости.

• ✗ I was read a book when he came.

  ✓ I was reading a book when he came.

  After was/were use the -ing form.

• ✗ They was playing in the park.

  ✓ They were playing in the park.

  They takes were, not was.

• ✗ While I was cooking, he arrived while.

  ✓ While I was cooking, he arrived.

  Use when for the interrupting action, not while twice.

Past Continuous vs Past Simple

Past Continuous shows an action in progress (background), while Past Simple shows a short completed action that interrupts it: I was watching TV (background) when the lights went out (interruption).

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