Introduction
The word Tense is a term in English grammar and refers to a form of the verb that indicates time. Time is a universal, non-linguistic concept with three divisions - Past, Present and Future; by tense, we understand the correspondence between the form of the verb and our concept of time. When making a statement it is essential to indicate whether a situation exists now, existed in the past or is likely to exist in the future.
What are the rules for using the past continuous tense? Past continuous tense is a form of the verb that is used to show that an action was in progress. It is formed by using the past tense of the verb 'to be' and the present participle of the verb. It is important to note that the past continuous tense is not used to talk about completed actions. It is also not used to talk about actions that happened in the past at a particular time. The past continuous is used to talk about actions that happened in the past and were in progress at a particular time.
For example,
- I was watching TV when my mom came in.
- I was drinking a beer.
Past Continuous Tense - Rules and Examples
✅ Rule 1
Past Continuous tense expresses an action going on at some time in the past; as,
- When she came into my room, I was studying.
- He was looking ill yesterday.
- I was reading all afternoon.
- When he came to me I was talking to my wife.
✅ Rule 2
Past Continuous tense is used to refer to an event that was in progress at the time something else happened; as,
- The boy fell down while he was running.
- She was sitting in a Cafe when I saw her.
- We were having coffee when the lights went out.
✅ Rule 3
This tense is used to refer to repeated actions in the past; as,
- He was always telling me to do things I did not want to do.
✅ Rule 4
This tense is used to refer to an action that was intended to be done in the past but was not done; as,
- Sharmila walked away, just as I was going to speak to her.
✅ Rule 5
Past Continuous tense is used when two actions are going on Simultaneously in the past; as,
- While Ramu was playing, I was doing my work.
- While my wife was cooking food, I was writing a book.
✅ Rule 6
We use this tense in the following senses:
- He was becoming richer and richer.
- It was getting darker and darker.
- Anita was growing more and more beautiful.
✅ Affirmative Sentences
Pattern:
➤ Subject + was/were + verb (Ist form) + ing + O/A.
- The lion was sleeping under a tree.
- My Mother was cooking food when I reached home.
- Boys were playing while girls were reading.
✅ Negative Sentences
Pattern:
➤ Subject + was/were + not + verb (Ist form) + ing + O/A.
- She was not reading her book when I saw her.
- The lion was not sleeping under the tree.
✅ Interrogative Sentences
Pattern:
➤ Was/were + subject + verb (Ist form) + ing + O/A?
➤ Q.W. + was/were + subject + verb (Ist form) + ing + O/A?
- Was he crying?
- Were the cattle grazing in your field?
- Were the police running after the thieves?
- Why was he disturbing you?
- Where were the boys going?
- What was she doing when you reached there?
✅ Adverbials
1. While, at that time.
2. At that moment, etc