Verb tense: Past Continous

Hi Sweetie,

Let’s now study a new verb tense: Past Continous. It is simple verb tense, similar to ones in Portuguese.

Past Continous

was / were + Present participle

You were studying when she called.
Were you studying when she called?
You were not studying when she called.

Use 1 : Interrupted action in the past



I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
What were you doing when the earthquake started?
I was listening to my iPod, so I didn’t hear the fire alarm.
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.

Use 2: Specific time as an interruption



Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.



Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I started eating at 6 PM.
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

Use 3: Parallel actions



I was studying while he was making dinner.
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
Were you listening while he was talking?
I wasn’t paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
What were you doing while you were waiting?
Thomas wasn’t working, and I wasn’t working either.

Use 4: Atmosphere



Use 5: Repetition and irritation with always


The Past Continuous with words such as always or constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression used to but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words always or constantly between be and verb+ing.

She was always coming to class late.
He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
I didn’t like them because they were always complaining.


While versus when

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word when such as when she called or when it bit me. Other clauses begin with while such as while she was sleeping and while he was surfing.

When you talk about things in the past, when is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas while is usually followed by Past Continuous. While expresses the idea of during that time.

The examples below have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.

I was studying when she called.
While I was studying, she called.

Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that there are verbs that cannot be used in any continuous tenses (Non-Continuous Verbs). Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs (another special class of English verbs) cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.

Jane was being at my house when you arrived.
Jane was at my house when you arrived.

Adverb placement


You were just studying when she called.
Were you just studying when she called?


Do the following exercises:

Beijo do pai!


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