Past Continuous Tense – English Grammar Guide

I have already  discussed  about the important of English grammar and tenses. We know that, English has become an international language. In this era, everyone want to speak in English. But problem is that majority people face number of problems because they can’t speak and learn English. For speak English, we should have gone to basic English grammar and tenses. As we know that, the example of tenses is like a tree which has three large branches and every branch a four small branches. We have discussed, in our previous articles about the first large branch which is “Present” and their small branches names are:

1. Present Indefinite Tense.
2. Present Continuous Tense.
3. Present Perfect Tense.
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Past Continuous Tense:

Like a “present” second large branch is “Past” and their small branches names are:

1. Past Indefinite Tense.
2. Past Continuous Tense.
3. Past Perfect Tense.
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

In this article, we will discussion about the  identification and structure of past continuous tense

Identification:

Past continuous tense show to the work which started in past and still is continue in the sense of speaking. On the other hand, we can say that,  past continuous tense show an incomplete action.

In past continuous tense we use helping verb“Was/Were” with “First form of verb” and “Ing”.

Use Of Was/Were:

We use “Was” with (He, She, It, Singular name).

We use “Were” with (I, We, You, They).

Structure Of Simple past continuous tense:

Subject + Helping verb (was/were) + First form of verb + Ing + Object.

For example:

1. I was going to school.
2. Children were taking part in sports and games.
3. We were eating food.
4. Aliza was writing an essay on  Science and Information Technology.
5. They were talking about the Fashion.

Past Continuous Tense In Negative Sentences:

In negative sentence we use “Wasn’t” after the “subject”  and before the a “First form of verb”

Structure Of Past Continuous In Negative Sentences:

Subject + Helping verb (wasn’t/weren’t) + First form of verb + Ing + Object.

For example:

1. They weren’t Playing football,
2. Aliza wasn’t writing an essay on Women role in society.
3. They weren’t taking about the Social media.
4. She wasn’t singing a song.
5. We weren’t going to school.

Past Continuous Tense In Interrogative Sentences:

In interrogative sentences we use “Was/Were”  before the subject.

Structure Of Past Continuous In Interrogative Sentences:

Helping verb (was/were) + Subject + First form of verb + Ing + Object.

For example:

1. Was he going to school?
2. Were children cleaning the house?
3. Were they playing football?
4. Was she singing a song?
5. Was Aliza writing an essay on blessing of science for human beings?

Remember Always !!

Simple past continuous tense:

(He, She, It, Singular name) Was

(I, We, You, They) Were

In Negative:

(He, She, It, Singular name) Wasn’t

(I, We, You, They) Weren’t

In Interrogative:

Was (He, She, It, Singular name)

Were (I, We, You, They)

Test Of  Intelligence:

True & false:

1. She was doing homework.
2. Aliza eating food.
3. They weren’t go to school.
4. Was Aliza singing a song?
5. They were play cricket.

Answers:

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False