A fundamental tense of English is the past continuous. It is used to express the activities we performed at a particular time within the past. The tenses describe events that occurred in the past but at an exact moment in time. The action has already been stopped when a sentence is written or spoken.
To indicate that a long event during an earlier time was cut short, utilize the continuous past. The most common interruption could be a short event that occurred in the past. Be aware that the disruption may be temporary and natural. An action that is brief within the present moment disrupts the continuous past.
However, you can interrupt it at a certain point in time. In the past simple, the beginning and conclusion are determined by a date. The specific time pauses the action within an ongoing past. Past continuous shows that two steps were taking place simultaneously when two acts are described when they are mentioned in the same paragraph.
Contents
Past continuous:
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Affirmative:
The past continuous tense used extensively in English is created with a -ing word followed by present tense in the tense “to be.” It’s a straightforward concept to grasp, and when you master it, you’ll be able to discuss the past more freely. It is easy to construct this past continuous by mixing words that refer to being with terms ending with -ed instead of ending in -ing.
After reviewing these examples, read until the end to practice picking the correct verb tense to complete an entire sentence. Keep an index or dictionary nearby when you read a book or an article, particularly when encountering odd or bizarre verbs.
Structure:
Subject + was/were + ‘ing’ form of verb + object
Example:
- Yesterday, the kids were playing basketball together.
- My neighbor informed me of the fire that broke out across the street while we were conversing.
- I turned on the TV as I was ready to sleep to watch what had transpired during the day.
Negative:
All you need to create the negative of the past continuous tense is to include the word “not” after the verb. Remove the”o” from not and then insert an apostrophe to make the third and first person (I, he, she, and it) negative.
Similar to was not or were not or Was not. Was Not or Were In the version of this verb creates a negative present progressive form of the verb. Utilizing the contractions was not and weren’t to express the negative, and vice versa.
Structure:
Subject + was/were + not + ‘ing’ form of verb + object
Example:
- The year before, I was not giving money to charities; however, after receiving an increase, I began making donations to the local shelter for animals.
- I didn’t even sing the national anthem; I was singing the anthem, however.
- The unruly boy was not playing a joke on the older man.
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Interrogative:
Begin by introducing Was or Were and choose the topic, use the in (present participle) version of the verb, and then the remainder of your question. The details of wh-questions add to the responses.
Where, what, when, when is, why, who, and why are some examples of commonly used wh-words. The Wh-word must be the first, followed by or were and the subject. The verb, the (participle) variant of the verb, and then only can the rest of the sentences be included.
Structure:
Was/were + Subject + ‘ing’ form of verb + object + ?
Example:
- Why didn’t she stay at the place of the meeting and wait?
- Did the hero engage in combat with cannibals?
- Did you enjoy the show of music with original lyrics?
- Did she do any preparation for exams?
Interro-Negative:
Begin with Wasn’t or Weren’t in a negative query when you pose a question that could get one or the other. Begin with the word Wh, followed by weren’t or wasn’t in the case of a negative query to create the wh-question.
Structure:
Was/were + Subject + not + ‘ing’ form of verb + object + ?
Example:
- Tom wasn’t around as you passed the cafe, wasn’t Tom?
- I was snoring, wasn’t I?
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How to learn English Grammar from basic to advanced?
Many people struggle with learning English grammar, feeling it is a difficult and dry subject. However, gaining mastery of grammar can be an immensely rewarding experience, providing a key to understanding the inner workings of one of the world’s most widely-spoken languages. There are a number of different approaches that can be taken to learn grammar, but one effective method is to start with the basics and gradually build up to more complex concepts.
One way to start learning grammar is by focusing on one area at a time. For example, beginners might want to focus on mastering verb tenses before moving on to other topics. Another approach is to familiarize yourself with the most common grammatical rules and then move on to more specific concepts. Regardless of which method you choose, make sure to practice regularly in order to keep your skills sharp. With some dedication and hard work, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can develop a strong understanding of English grammar.
Conclusion:
Because it’s used to describe actions or events that took place at a particular moment in the past but are usually not occurring in the present, the continuous past tense is essential. It gives a sense of the chronology of events and the relative age of historical incidents. The use of non-continuous verbs in continuous tenses has to be considered.
Furthermore, past continuous certain mixed verbs with non-continuous meanings cannot be used for continuous sentences. Using the simple past when using these verbs is necessary, not the straight past. Students will go through this article to better understand past continuous tense. It can help them complete many tasks.
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