Skip to main content

Past Continuous Tense.




Functions of the Past continuous
The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past and is still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or incomplete action in the past.
It is used:
  • Often, to describe the background in a story written in the past tense, e.g. "The sun was shining and the birds were singing as the elephant came out of the jungle. The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved very quickly. She was looking for her baby, and she didn't notice the hunter who was watching her through his binoculars. When the shot rang out, she was running towards the river..."
  • to describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by another event or action, e.g. "I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang."
  • to express a change of mind: e.g. "I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've decided to get my homework done instead."
  • with 'wonder', to make a very polite request: e.g. "I was wondering if you could baby-sit for me tonight."
Examples
  • They were waiting for the bus when the accident happened.
  • Annisa was skiing when she broke her leg.
  • When we arrived he was having a bath.
  • When the fire started I was watching television.
Note: with verbs not normally used in the continuous form, the simple past is used.
Forming the Past continuous
The past continuous of any verb is composed of two parts : the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were), and the base of the main verb +ing.
Subject
was/were
base + ing
They
were
Writing
Affirmative
She
was
sleeping
Negative
She
wasn't
teaching
Interrogative
Was
she
teaching?
Interrogative negative
Wasn't
she
teaching?
To fast, past continuous
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
I was fasting
  I was not fasting
Was I fasting?
You were fasting
  You were not fasting
Were you fasting?
He was fasting
  He wasn't fasting
Was he fasting?
We were fasting
  We weren't fasting
Were we fasting?
They were fasting
  They weren't fasting
Were they fasting ?



Read Also : Register

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Conversation After Death

Syibly, a pious man was born in Baghdad. He died 334 Hijri and was buried at Baghdad.  He was one day asked after his death in spiritual conversation (saint dream)  about what Allah has done for him. He answered to whom asked : “ My brother! Allah has asked me.. O Syibly Did you know by what  I have forgiven you? I replied : by my good actions? Oh my Lord He said  : you are wrong I replied again : by the sincerity of my service to You? my Lord! He said : you are wrong I replied again : by my pilgrimage to Mecca and my fasting and my prayer? my Lord! He said : you are wrong I replied again : by my migration to the teachers for seeking knowledge or to the pious men? my Lord! He said : You are wrong I replied again : So , by what You have forgiven me? Oh Allah He answered : Did you remember when you walked in a path inside Baghdad , you found a baby cat which had been suffering from the cold and had move...
Post a Comment
Read more

Carilah Wasilah Kepada Nya : Istri Cerewet

  Dua orang memutuskan untuk singgah di dalam goa di suatu gunung di Yaman Hadramaut. Mereka sepakat untuk melakukan pemberhentian di goa tersebut untuk beberapa lama demi memulihkan tenaga sekaligus karna kehabisan bekal makanan. Di samping itu, goa tersebut cukup nyaman dijadikan tempat untuk berkhalwat “menyendiri” dan berkontemplasi dari hiruk pikuk duniawi. Pada suatu hari mereka berdua dikejutkan dengan hadirnya salah seorang asing yang bergabung dengan dua orang tersebut untuk mengasingkan diri.   Setelah terjadi percakapan, mereka berdua sepakat untuk menerima orang ketiga dalam goa tersebut dan memang goa tersebut bukan milik mereka berdua maka tak seharusnya mereka menolaknya. Kedatangan orang tersebut bertepatan dengan waktunya waktu makan malam. Tiba salah satunya komat kamit berdoa yang sejurus kemudian muncul hidangan yagn berlauk pauk sangat lezat di hadapan mereka bertiga. Kedua orang yang sudah terlebih dahulu datang mempersilahkan orang ketiga untuk berga...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mendekatlah Kepada Nya (6) : Kasih Makan Merpati di Tulungagung

  Seorang salesman pharmasi dari obat ternama di surabaya melakukan tugasnya di area Tulungagung dan sekitarnya untuk menjualkan produk obat pabrik perusahaan tersebut. Usaha untuk menjualkan obat kadang tak sesuai harapan karna harus bersaing dengan banyak pabrikan dan distributor lainnya. Meskipun pemilik perusahaan, namun kompetitor yang notabene distributor lain yang membeli dari produsen obat kadang bisa menjual dengan harga lebih rendah dari produsen tersebut. Hal ini karna distributor membeli dari pabrik dalam jumlah partai besar atau memenangkan lelang. Kebijakan ini sebenarnya sangat biasa sebagai strategi agar pabrik bisa menjual dalam jumlah besar melewati marketing distributor lain. Gaji pokok seorang salesman pharmasi kadang kala bisa dikalahkan oleh gaji bonus dari penjualan yang dihitung setiap bulannya. Disitulah seorang salesman Pharmasi dituntut agar dengan segenap tenaga dan fikirannya untuk menjual produknya sebanyak mungkin. Tak jarang dengan inisiatif ...
Post a Comment
Read more