the past continuous

the past continuous

By sofie geirnaert

When do we use the past continuous?

1. to talk about long actions going on in the past.

e.g. He was singing his favourite song while he was doing the dishes.

the past continuous

2. to talk about long actions that were going on in the past when something else happened.

e.g. He was studying English grammar​ when his mom walked in.​

the past continuous

We use was or were + the -ing form of the verb.

e.g. I was/ we were getting ready for school while I was/we were dancing.​

past continuous

How do we form the p.c.?

Multiple Choice

Ik was aan het koken toen hij zei dat hij wegging.

• We were cooking when he said he was going.

• I was cooking when he said he was leaving.

• I was cooking when she said she was leaving.

• We were cooking when they said they were leaving.

Multiple Select

Ze kwamen in mijn kamer toen ik aan het studeren was.

• They came into my room while I was studying.

• While I was studying they came into my room.

How to make the sentences negative?

​I was playing video games ==> I wasn't playing

You were playing ==> You weren't playing ​

Subject | Subject

past continuous

How to make questions?

I was walking home.

Was I walking home? (Yes, you were / No, you weren't)​

​

Were You lying? Was he/she singing? Was it raining? Were we happy? Were you dancing? Were they shouting?

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past continuous