PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

FORM:

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past and is still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or incomplete action in the past.

POSITIVE FORM

#To make a question we simply change “was/were” with the subject pronoun
I was doing my homework at this time yesterday.
X
Was I doing my homework at this time yesterday?

#To make a negative we simply add “not” after was/were
He wasn’t doing his homework at this time yesterday.
She wasn’t doing her homework at this time yesterday.

EXAMPLES and EXPLANATIONS

POSITIVE
-I was reading a newspaper.
-He was writing his thesis.
-She was looking outside.
-It was sitting down.
—
-They were talking each other.
-We were sitting altogether.
-You were looking at me.
#For the singular subjects–I, He, She, It  we use “was” // for the plural subjects —We, You, They we use “were” after the subject. We add –ing to the verbs–reading, writing, looking, sitting, talking etc.
NEGATIVES
To make a negative “we simply add –not– after was-were“
-I was not playing guitar.
-She was not studying lesson
-We were not listening to music
-They were not shooting at that time.
Short forms- wasn’t – weren’t
John wasn’t driving his car.
They weren’t watching TV.
QUESTION FORMS
He was writing his thesis yesterday evening.
X
Was he writing his thesis yesterday evening?
They were driving to London.
X
Were they driving to London?

MORE EXAMPLES

+I was writing an e-mail
-I wasn’t reading an e-mail
?Was I writing an e-mail?

+He was drinking tea.
– He wasn’t drinking tea
?Was he drinking tea?

+She was reading her book.
-She wasn’t reading her book.
?Was she reading her book?

+It was sleeping.
-I wasn’t sleeping.
?Was it sleeping?

+We were listening to music.
-We weren’t listening to music.
?Were we listening to music?

+You were having your dinner.
-You weren’t having your dinner.
?Were you having your dinner?

+They were performing on the scene.
-They weren’t performing on the scene.
?Were they performing on the scene

#To make a question sentences we simply replace “was-were” with the “subject” as in the above examples.
We can add any question word at the beginning of a question sentences
-Were you looking outside for your brother yesterday evening ?
–Yes, I was looking outside for my brother.
-What were you looking for?
–I was looking for my brother.
-Where were you looking?
–I was looking outside.
-When were you looking outside for your brother?
–I was looking outside for my brother yesterday evening.

     Past Continuous Tense (QUIZ)

 (ANSWER KEY IS AT THE END OF THE TEST)

1. I …………………….my breakfast at 8 o’clock, yesterday morning.

a)was                                  b)am have
c)was  having                       d)have
 
2)My sister …………………………..music when I came.
a)was listening to                 b)was sleeping to
c)are listening to                 d)do listens to

3)Cem ……………………………….a book in the book store yesterday.
a)was looking for                b)look
c)is looking for                    d)have look

4)At this time last week, my brother ………………….his  car in the garage.
a)is repairing                      b)have repaire
c)was repairing                   d)repairing

5)…………………….you ………………..with your classmate ,when the teacher   explained the subject?
a) was-talking                     b)were-talking
c) is-talk                             d)have-talking

6)………………………..I saw him , she …………………………………to  Supermarket.
a)While-were going             b)When-was going
c)When-is going                  d)While-does going

7)………………………………Selim was playing football he …………..his leg.
a)While-broke                   b)When-broke
c)While-was breaking        d)When-was breaking

8)……………………………the manager …………….me ,I was walking in the garden.
a)While-call                       b)When-is calling
c)When-called                    d)While-are calling

9)When I ……………..in the classroom ,everybody…………………..at me.
a)fall-is laughing                b)falled-was laughing
c)fell-laughed                      d)felt-laughing

10)When my favourite team ………….I  ………………it.
a)score-wasn’t  watching    b)scored-weren’t watching
c)has scored-hasn’t watched   d)scored-wasn’t watching

11)When I ……………the door,I………………….our next door neighbour.
a)was opening-was see      b)open- see
c)opened- saw                   d)am opening-was seeing

12)When she …………………at the party ,everybody…………………
a)arrive-dancing               b)arrived-was dancing
c)was arriving-was dancing      d)has arrived –is dancing

13)While Ali …………shower,my mother……………………

a)had-came                      b)was having-came
c)was having-come           d)is having-caming

14)Avril……………….. the teacher…………….the teacher was asking questions to  students.
a)wasn’t listening-while     b)weren’t listening-while
c)isn’t listening-when        d)doesn’t listens-when

15)Where …………….you ………………….…I saw you?
a)were- going when           b)was- going while
c)has- gone when              d)did-going while

16)My mother  was cooking meal…………..my father ……………………………….
a)While –phoned               b)When-was phoning
c)While-is phoned             d)When-phoned

17)…………………………….the accident happened  on the other road ,I  was driving.
a)When                            b)While
cWho                               d)Which

18)Jack…………..lesson when their family  was abroad .
a)were  study                    b)wasn’t studing
c)is study                          d)has study

19)There……………a good film on TV last night.
a)is         b)has      c)  do       d)   was

20) …………….you looking outside?
a)was      b)is        c)were        d)be

                     GOOD LUCK  !

Past Continuous Tense (QUIZ)

ANSWER KEY:

1-C  2-A  3-A  4-C  5-B  6-B  7-A  8-C  9-C  10-D
11-C  12-B  13-B  14-A  15-A  16-D  17-A  18-B  19-D 20-C