In this article, I have explained the past continuous tense. I have also explained the use of past continuous tense. The positive sentence, negative sentences, and interrogative sentences. I have also given the exercise of the past continuous tense.
Past continuous tense
Introduction
It is used to express a continued or ongoing action in the past. An action that occurred in the past and was completed at some point in the past. It expresses the ongoing nature of an action in the past. For example, She was dancing. This sentence shows ongoing action dancing that occurred in the past. Past continuous tense is also called past progressive tense.Rules
Auxiliary Be is used in the past continuous tense. Helping verb "Was" and "Were" is used in a sentence of past continuous tense. The first form or base form + ing is used as the main verb. In other words, we can say that present participle is used in the past continuous tense.Used
- Express the ongoing action in the past
- Express the continue action in the past
- Action accrued in the past and completed at some point in the past
- Express the ongoing nature of an action in the past.
Structure of sentence
The general sequence of a sentence of past continuous tense is subject + auxiliary Be +main verb present participle + object. In negative sentences not is added after helping verb Be and in interrogative sentences auxiliary Be is written at the start of the sentence.Positive sentence
In positive sentence auxiliary verb "Was" and "Were" is used. First form +ing or present participle is used as the main verb in positive sentences. The structure of a positive sentence is the following. If the subject is He, She, It, I, the singular subject then helping verb “WAS” is used. If the subject is You,Subject + Helping Verb be + Main Verb present participle + Object
Subject + Was / Were + VIing + Object
Examples
- He was staring at ladies in the bazaar.
- He was meeting you
- They were setting up a shop.
- They were advising you to marry there.
- She was hiding facts you
- He was teasing her.
- He was buying a book.
- They were flying kits.
- You are disgracing us. He was playing football.
- She was pressing clothes.
- We were going on the right path.
Negative Sentence
In negative sentence Not is used after helping verb Was and Were. The first form or base form + ing is used as the main verb. We can say that helping verb Was Not or Were not and the Main verb present participle is used in negative sentences of past continuous tense.Examples
- He was not staring at ladies in the bazaar.
- He was not meeting you
- They were not setting up a shop.
- They were not advising you to marry there.
- She was not hiding facts you
- He was not teasing her.
- He was not buying a book.
- They were not flying kits.
- You are not disgracing us.
- He was not playing football.
- She was not pressing clothes.
- We were not going on the right path.
Interrogative sentence
In interrogative sentences Helping verb Was and Were is at the start of the sentence. The first form or base form +ing or present participle is used as the main verb.Helping Verb Be + Subject + Main Verb present participle + Object
Was / Were + Subject + VI ing+ Object
Examples
- Was he staring at ladies in the bazaar?
- Was he meeting you set up a shop?
- Were they advising you to marry there?
- Was she hiding facts you?
- Was he teasing her?
- Was I buy a book.?
- Were they flying kits?
- Were you disgracing us?
- Was he playing football?
- Was she pressing clothes?
- Were they going on the right path?
Interrogative + Negative Sentence
In interrogative plus negative sentences helping verb Was and Were are used at the start of the sentence. The subject is used after helping the verb was and were. Not is used after the subject and then the first form of the main verb added ing is used. At the end of the sentence, the object is used.
Examples
- Was he not staring at ladies in the bazaar?
- Was he not meeting you set up a shop?
- Were they not advising you to marry there?
- Was she not hiding facts you?
- Was h not teasing her?
- Was I not buy a book.?
- Were they not flying kits?
- Were you not disgracing us?
- Was he not playing football?
- Was she not pressing clothes?
(WH) Interrogative Sentences
In interrogative sentences (WH) words like Who, What, When, Where, How, Which, etc. are used at the start of the sentence, after (wh) words helping verb Was and Were are used. After helping verb, the subject is used then the first form of the main verb added ing or present participle is used. At the end of the sentence, an object is used.
Examples
- Why was he staring at ladies in the bazaar?
- Why was he meeting you set up a shop?
- Why were they advising you to marry there?
- How was she hiding facts you?
- Where was he teasing her?
- When was I buy a book.?
- Why were they flying kits?
- Who were you disgracing us?
- Where was he playing football?
- How was he pressing clothes?
Exercise
1. I was preparing for the examination.
Was I not preparing for the examination.
Was I preparing for the examination?
Was I not preparing for the examination?
When I was preparing for the examination?
2. We were learning our lessons.
We were not learning our lessons.
Were we learning our lessons?
Were we not learning our lessons?
How were we learning our lessons?
3. You were reading a book.
You were not reading a book.
Were you reading a book?
Were you not reading a book?
When were you reading a book?
Why were you reading a book?
4. They were dancing at a party.
They were not dancing at a party.
Were they dancing at a party?
Were they not dancing at a party?
Why were they dancing at a party?
5. She was abusing her brother.
She was not abusing her brother.
Was she abusing her brother?
Was she not abusing her brother?
Why was she abusing her brother?
6. It was raining.
It was not raining.
Was it raining?
Was it not raining?
How was it raining?
7. Hina was making a speech.
Hina was not making a speech.
Was Hina making a speech?
Was Hina not making a speech?
Wher was Hina making a speech?
8. Goher was eating an apple.
Goher was not eating an apple.
Was Goher eating an apple?
Was Goher not eating an apple?
When was Goher eating an apple?
9. Hina and Goher were studying in the class.
Hina and Goher were not studying in the class.
Were Hina and Goher were studying in the class?
Were Hina and Goher not studying in the class?
How were Hina and Goher studying in the class?
10. I was going to college.
I was not going to college.
Was I going to college?
Was I not going to college?
Why was I going to college?
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