Phenomenal English

Past Continuous (Progressive)

Definition of Past Continuous:

Past Continuous tense is used to describe a verb or an action which was happening at the time of speech in the past. Past Continuous also expresses repeated actions of past, general changes, imaginary scene of past etc.

Usages of Past Continuous:

1. Past Continuous is used to describe a verb or an action which was happening at the time of speech in the past.
   • Harry was taking.
   • Boys were playing cricket.
   • Patient was crying with pain.
2. To describe an action that was planned in the past whether it was completed or not.
   • He was going to open a school.
   • I was restarting my Youtube channel.
   • Anil was leaving London bag and baggage.
3. To show an abstract action which was in progress in the past.
   • I was earning money by online content writing.
   • Karan was establishing his business step by step.
   • America was spreading hate with her policies.
4. To show different general changes like environmental, geographical, social trends etc of a certain time in the past.
   • The globe was getting hotter with passage of time.
   • Tyranny was becoming important feature of 15th century.
   • Poeple were accepting social changes rapidly in the Renaissance period.
5. To show repeated events of the past.
   • Martin was constantly complaining about my behaviour.
   • He was abusing me again and again.
   • Summon was trying hard to become a doctor.
6. To show multiple actions happening concurrently (at the same time side by side).
   • When Rohan was listening music, Alice was cooking food.
   • While rich people were feasting, the poor were starving.
   • When muslim rulers were builing forts and temples, western rulers were establishing universities.
7. To portray a literary, imaginary or real scenario of the past.
   • The sun was rising, I was sitting on the bench, with the face towards the sun, was feeling the warmth of rays. It was pleasant scene and I was listening the distant whistling of birds somewhere in my ears.
   • Terrified and frightened people were wandering here and there to seek help. Passengers were bleeding from their wounds. Dust still was not settling which was caused by the collusion of the buses. After the accident, people were cursing to this dark hour of their life.

Formation of Past Continuous:

Affirmative Sentences

In positive or affirmative sentences of Past Continuous Tense we use was, were and ing form of verb. Was for singular subjects, were for plural subjects.

Interrogative Sentences

In interrogative sentences of Past Continuous Tense we drag was, were before subject and use ing form of verb. Was for singular subjects, were for plural subjects.

Negative Sentences

In negative sentences of Past Continuous Tense we use not after was, were and ing form of verb. Was for singular subjects, were for plural subjects.