Starlight 5 Grammar lesson Past Continuous

The Past Continuous (Progressive) Tense

Starlight 5

Form : Was/were +Ving

Affirmative form :

I (he, she, it) was read ing

You (we, they) were read ing

Negative form :

I (he, she, it) was not (wasn't) read ing

You (we, they) were not (weren’t) read ing

Interrogative form :

Was I (he, she, it) read ing?

Yes, I (he, she, it) was.

No, I (he, she it) wasn’t.

Were you (we, they) read ing?

Yes, you (we, they) were.

No, you (we, they) weren’t.

Past Continuous usage :

• для описания действия, которое происходило в прошлом и которое было прервано другим действием. Past Continuous употребляется для описания действия в развитии/процессе (длительное действие), a Past Simple – для описания действия, которое прервало его (краткое действие)

They were playing football when their mother called them. – Они играли футбол, когда мама позвала их.

Past Continuous usage :

• для описания двух или более действий, происходивших в одно и то же время в прошлом (одновременные действия).

He was reading while his brother was watching TV. – Он читал пока его брат смотрел телевизор.

Past Continuous usage :

• для описания действия, которое происходило в определенное время в прошлом. При этом не указывается, когда действие началось или закончилось.

At six o’clock last night I was talking on the telephone. – В 6 часов вечера вчера

я разговаривал по телефону.

Past Continuous usage :

• Для описания атмосферы, обстановки, и т.п., а также во вступлении к рассказу.

The birds were singing and the sun was shining . I was sitting outside in the garden when something strange happened…

TIPs :

• Когда в предложении есть две формы Past Continuous , относящиеся к одному подлежащему, во избежание повторения глагол to be во втором случае опускается и употребляется лишь причастие настоящего времени с – ing.

He was walking along, and he was talking on his mobile phone. = He was walking along (and) talking on his mobile phone.

Signal word for Past Continuous :

• While ( пока) , when (когда) , as, all morning/day/week (все утро/весь день/всю неделю) , at 8 o’clock am (в 8 часов утра)

Past Continuous :

Past Continuous :

Past Continuous :

Образование вопросов в Past Continuous

I was talk ing on the phone at 6o’clock yesterday evening .

1.Общий вопрос

Was I talk ing on the phone at 6o’clock

yesterday evening?

2. Альтернативный вопрос:

Was I talk ing on the phone or reading a book at 6o’clock yesterday evening?

3. Вопрос к подлежащему:

Who was talk ing on the phone at 6o’clock yesterday evening?

4. Специальный вопрос:

What was I do ing at 6 o’clock yesterday evening?

When was I talk ing on the phone?

5.Разделительный вопрос:

I was talk ing on the phone at 6o’clock yesterday evening , wasn’t I?