Tense is the change of form in a verb to express the time of action of the verb, its continuance and degree of completeness. Hi friends, in today’s article we are going to know about the concept of Past Continuous Tense with examples, rules, formation. So let’s discuss in details.
There are three types of tense – (i) Present Tense (ii) Past Tense and (iii) Future Tense
Table of Contents
What is Past Continuous Tense?
The Past Continuous Tense is used to denote an action that was going on for sometime in the past. It is also used to denote two actions that were going on at the same time for sometime in the past.
If there are given two verbs in the bracket () to correct tense then both the verbs will be in the past continuous tense.
Common Words – With when, while and as there is two parts in a sentence and a part of the sentence is given in the past indefinite tense then the other part will be in the past continuous tense.
Common Words 1 – All the afternoon, all the night, all the morning, all the whole day, all day yesterday, at that time, then, etc. are used in the past continuous tense.
Formation of this Tense (P.C.T)
Sub + was/were + Verb + ing + obj
| Sub | was/were | Verb | ing | Obj |
| I | was | sleep | ing | – |
| You | were | write | ing | – |
Past Continuous Tense Rules
(i) Singular subject take was and plural subject take were.
(ii) If the sentence in the past continuous tense is an interrogative sentence then “was/were” is used before the subject.
Past Continuous Tense Examples
• When he came, I (read) my book.
When he came, I was reading my book.
• When I first met her, she (work) in a restaurant.
When I first met her, she was working in a restaurant.
• As they (cross) the road, a bus knocked them.
As they were crossing the road, a bus knocked them.
• The old man (work) in the field all the morning.
The old man was working in the field all the morning.
• While Jon (sing), Marcy (dance) on the song.
While Jon was singing, Marcy was dancing on the song.
• What he (do) in the morning?
What was he doing in the morning?
Conclusion
So friends, this was the concept of the Past Continuous Tense. Hope you get the full details about it and hope you like this article.
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