Is formed from the past tense of be with the -ing
AUTHOR ï‚· Janan Abou Jok CI. 26887856
The past continuous is formed from the past tense of be with the ing form of the verb: We use the past continuous to talk about the past:
For something which continued before and after another action: The children were doing their homework when I got home. Compare: I got home. The children did their homework. The children did their homework when I got home. As I was watching television the telephone rang. This use of the past continuous is very common at the beginning of a story: The other day I was waiting for a bus when … Last week as I was driving to work …
For something that happened before and after a particular time:
It was eight o’clock. I was writing a letter. Compare: At eight o’clock I wrote some letters.
In July she was working in McDonald’s.
To show that something continued for some time: My head was aching. Everyone was shouting.
For something that was happening again and again: I was practising every day, three times a day. They were meeting secretly after school. They were always quarrelling.
With verbs which show change or growth: The children were growing up quickly. Her English was improving. My hair was going grey. The town was changing quickly.
Who was she? Where was she? What was happening? Yesterday, it was raining and thundering all day. Ann was playing inside the house. She wanted to be outside. She wasn't playing outside because it was raining. She was feeling tired of being trapped inside the house. Ann was trying to keep busy inside the house. She was reading her book until the electricity went out. Then, she decided to practice her sewing. She was practicing sewing until lunchtime. After lunch, she sat by the window and watched the rain. While Ann was watching the rain, the phone rang. Her mother was calling to say she was coming home. She was bringing a new game. Ann and her mother ate ice cream and played the game. While they were playing, the rain stopped! But Ann didn't even notice. She was having such a good time with her mom!
What was he doing? What was happening? Last night at 7 o'clock, Nate was taking pictures of birds. He was walking through the city park when he saw a fire. An old, empty building near the park was on fire. Nate pulled out his camera. He was taking pictures of the fire when the fire trucks pulled up. The firefighters jumped out. They hooked up their hoses. While they were fighting the fire, Nate was taking more pictures. The firefighters were fighting the fire and Nate was taking pictures when the rain started. The rain helped put the fire out. The firefighters were clapping and Nate was cheering. The fire was finally out.