Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Tense

By Mr. Zhu

How do we use it?

​We use Past Continuous Tense when :

1) it is used to state about an action, activity, moment, state, or condition that was still on progress (happening) at a certain time in the past. e.g.: it was still raining at 11 P.M. last night.

Function 1

​We use Past Continuous Tense when :

2) it is used to state about an action, activity, moment, state, or condition that was still on progress (happening) when another moment/event happened during that background event. e.g.: it was still raining last night when a lightning struck my house's rooftop. ​

Form : Past Continuous tense + when + Simple Past tense​, or

Simple Past tense​, when + Past Continuous tense

Function 2

​We use Past Continuous Tense when :

3) it is used to state about 2 (two) actions, activities, moments, states, or conditions that were still on progress (happening) at the same time in the past. e.g.: it was still raining last night when a big storm was coming through.

Form : Past Continuous tense + when + Past Continuous tense​, or

​Past Continuous tense + while + Past Continuous tense​

Function 3

And how about its form?

​Form of Past Continuous Tense :

​Verbal Form : Subject + Past to be (was/were) + Progressive Verb (Verb + -ing) + Object (or no Object) + Complement

​

Non-Verb Form : ​Subject + Past to be (was/were) + being + Complement (Noun/Adjectives/Adverb)

Function 1