2015
English grammar Used To and Past Continuous Student: Oscar Humberto Hernandez Platero. Teacher: Jorge Alberto Mira Cortez. Bachillerato Virtual Universidad Don Bosco. Segundo año sección “E”
11111b1
Used To FORM [Used to + VERB] Example: • I used to go to the beach every day. It is better not to use "used to" in questions or negative forms; however, this is sometimes done in informal spoken English. It is better to ask questions and create negative sentences using Simple Past. • Yo solía ir a la playa todos los días. Es mejor no usar "solía " en las preguntas o las formas negativas; sin embargo, esto se hace a veces en informal inglés hablado. Es mejor hacer preguntas y crear oraciones negativas usando el pasado simple.
USE 1 Habit in the Past
"Used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now. • " used to" expresa la idea de que algo era una vieja costumbre que se detuvo en el pasado. Se indica que algo se repite a menudo en el pasado, pero no se suele hacer ahora Examples: • • • •
Jerry used to study English. Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer. I used to start work at 9 o'clock. Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian.
1) I used to walk every morning. 2) Used to buy fast food 3) He used to eat at this restaurant 4) She used to drive his car home. 5) When the child was used to cycling. 6) Every morning used to do his prayer. 7) I used to exercise an hour a day. 8) She used to spend much money. 9) When I was younger he used to dance tango 10) They used to come every Christmas. 11) I used to buy my shoes on the market
12) When we were kids we used to visit grandparents. 13) She used to be so in love 14) I did not used to do that 15) We used to dine with family 16) Before they used to visit more often. 17) I used to go to the beach on Sundays. 18) She used to dress up. 19) He used to repair your car. 20) They used to travel to Europe each year. 21) Sometimes not used to have food. 22) Americans they used to visit the country. 23) We used to see the cows the field. 24) We used to eat my birthday cake. 25) When the child was used to pay more attention in class.
Past Continuous FORM [Was/were + present participle] Examples: • You were studying when she called. • Were you studying when she called? • You were not studying when she called. Complete List of Past Continuous Forms
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time. Utilice el Pasado Continuo para indicar que una acción ya en el pasado se interrumpió. La interrupción es por lo general una acción más corta en el pasado simple. Recuerde que esto puede ser una interrupción real o sólo una interrupción en el tiempo Examples: • • • • • •
I was watching TV when she called. When the phone rang, she was writing a letter. While we were having the picnic, it started to rain. What were you doing when the earthquake started? I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm. You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car. • Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane. • While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off. A: What were you doing when you broke your leg? B: I was snowboarding. •
1 when I was driving, he crossed the street. 2)? Were you thinking, you do not pay attention? 3) When I left the house was sunny, but rain came. 4) I was eating when he came pain. 5) Were eating? 6) We were watching TV and we were not fighting. 7) Were waiting for the bus, and came a taxi. 8) We were just bringing a kiss. 9) We were not doing anything wrong. 10) You were doing when you call? 11) Was drinking hot coffee 12) The game was very good, 13) You were watching you? 14) Where were you all day? 15) Were walking in the park 16) When the phone rang, he was in the bathroom. 17) had to do homework, but he was sick. 18) When was paying, bequeathed thieves? 19) Where the police was? 20) Were in elections 21) Where the deputies were? 22) We were dancing 23) And the band was playing. 24) Why do not answer me? 25) was naked and was afraid. •
USE 2 Specific Times as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption. En USO 1, descrito anteriormente, el Pasado Continuo es interrumpido por una acción más corta en el pasado simple . Sin embargo, también puede utilizar un tiempo específico como una interrupción. Examples: • •
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
•
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
IMPORTANT In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action. IMPORTANTE En el pasado simple, se utiliza un tiempo específico para mostrar cuando una acción comenzó o terminó. En el Pasado Continuo, un tiempo específico sólo interrumpe la acción. Examples: • Last night at 6 PM, I STARTED EATING AT 6 PM.
I ate dinner.
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. I STARTED EARLIER; AND AT 6 PM, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER.
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel. Cuando se utiliza el Pasado Continuo con dos acciones en la misma frase, que expresa la idea de que ambas acciones fueron sucediendo al mismo tiempo. Las acciones son paralelas. Examples: I was studying while he was making dinner. • While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television. • Were you listening while he was talking? • I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes. • What were you doing while you were waiting? • Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either. • They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time. •
USE 4 Atmospheres In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past. En inglés, a menudo utilizamos una serie de acciones paralelas para describir la atmósfera en un momento determinado en el pasado. Examples:
When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service. •
USE 5 Repetitions and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb + ing.” Pasado Continuo con palabras tales como " siempre" o " constantemente " expresa la idea de que algo irritante o chocante menudo ocurrió en el pasado. El concepto es muy similar a la expresión "que se utiliza a ", pero con la emoción negativa. Recuerde poner las palabras " siempre" o " constantemente " entre " ser" y " verbo + ing. " Examples: • • •
She was always coming to class late. He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone. I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
While vs. When Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence. Mientras vs. Cuando Las cláusulas son grupos de palabras que tienen significado, pero a menudo no son oraciones completas. Algunas cláusulas comienzan con la palabra " cuando" como " cuando llamó " o " cuando me mordió”. Otras cláusulas comienzan con " mientras que" tales como " mientras dormía " y " mientras él estaba surfeando. " Cuando se habla de las cosas en el pasado, " cuando" es más a menudo seguido por el verbo en tiempo pasado simple, mientras que " mientras que" suele aparecer acompañado Pasado Continuo. “Mientras que" expresa la idea de " durante ese tiempo. " Estudio de los ejemplos a continuación. Ellos tienen significados similares, pero enfatizan diferentes partes de la oración. Examples: • •
I was studying when she called. While I was studying, she called.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past. RECUERDE Verbos no continuos / Verbos mixtos Es importante recordar que los verbos no continuos no se pueden utilizar en cualquier tiempo continuo. Además, ciertos significados no continuas para los verbos mixto no pueden ser utilizados en tiempos continuos. En lugar de utilizar Pasado Continuo con estos verbos, debe usar el pasado simple. Examples: • •
Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. COLOCACIÓN ADVERBIO Los ejemplos siguientes muestran la colocación de los adverbios gramaticales como: siempre, solo, nunca, nunca, todavía, justo, etc. Examples: • •
You were just studying when she called. Were you just studying when she called?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Examples: The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. ACTIVE • The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. PASSIVE More About Active / Passive Forms •
EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS • • • • • •
Verb Tense Exercise 3 Simple Past and Past Continuous Verb Tense Exercise 4 Simple Past and Past Continuous Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review