PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Past continuous tense or past progressive tense are the same thing

The past continuous tense refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past.

The past continuous tense is formed by combining the past tense of to be (i.e., was/were) with the verb’s present participle (-ing word).

There are many situations in which this verb tense might be used in a sentence. For example, it is often used to describe conditions that existed in the past.

Examples: The sun was shining every day that summer. As I spoke, the children were laughing.

IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING THAT WAS HAPPENING CONTINUOUSLY IN THE PAST WHEN ANOTHER ACTION INTERRUPTED IT.

Examples:The audience was applauding until he fell off the stage. I was making dinner when she arrived.

The past continuous can be used to describe what was happening at a precise time in the past.

Examples: At 6 o’clock, I was eating dinner. Yesterday at this time, he was sleeping.

We DO NOT often use the past continuous tense in combination with stative verbs. Stative verbs are verbs which express a state rather than an action, and often relate to feelings like thoughts, emotions, relations or senses.

Long actions while (Past continuous) Short actions when (Past simple)

Examples: While I was playing the piano, you telephoned me. / I was playing the piano when you phoned me. I was watching TV when someone knocked on the door. / While I was watching TV, someone knocked on the door.

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