Past Continuous Tense structure with Rules and Examples

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Past Continuous Tense has been discussed here with its structure, rules to use, examples, and exercises. In a practical situation, the Past Continuous tense is used extensively while speaking as well as writing. So, explore the structure, rules, and examples of Past Continuous Tense that are given below.

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Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Tense is used to express an action that was going on at some point of time in the past. For examples,

  • (1) Tom was writing a letter.
  • (2) They were making noise.
  • (3) Why were you waiting for me?

Past Continuous Tense structure

The structure of Past Continuous Tense in sentences can be of four types –

  • a Positive or Affirmative Sentence
  • a Negative Sentence
  • an Interrogative Sentence
  • a Negative-Interrogative sentence

All structures are discussed below with a table and examples in an easy way.

Positive or Affirmative Sentence

Structure

Subject + was/were+ Verb + ing  + Object.

Table

PersonSingularPlural
1stI was playing football.We were playing football.
2ndYou were playing football.You were playing football.
3rdHe/She/It (any noun) was playing football.They/(two or more nouns) were playing football.

Other examples

  1. He was playing football.
  2. They were watching the movie yesterday.
  3. You were reading history.
  4. Birds were flying in the Sky.
  5. We were going to school.

Negative Sentence

Structure

Subject + was/were + not + Verb + ing  + Object.

Table

Person    Singular     Plural
1stI was not eating rice.We were not eating rice.
2ndYou were not eating rice.You were not eating rice.
3rdHe or She or (It)  was not eating rice.They were not eating rice.

Other Examples

  1. They were not playing football.
  2. She was cooking food.
  3. You were not drinking milk.
  4. Birds were not making houses.
  5. We were not studying now.

Interrogative Sentence

Structure

Was/Were+Subject  not + Verb + ing  + Object?

Table

Person   Singular      Plural
1stWas I eating rice?Were we eating rice?
2ndWere you eating rice?Were you eating rice?
3rdWas he/she/(it) eating rice?Were they eating rice?

Other Examples

  1. Was he playing football?
  2. Were they waiting for you?
  3. Were you reading history?
  4. Were birds flying in the Sky?
  5. Were you watching the movie?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure

Structure

Was/Were + Subject( If Pronoun) + Not  +  Verb + Object?
Was/Were + Not + Subject (If Noun)+  Verb + Object?
  • If the Subject is “NOUN”, “Not” will be placed before “Subject”.
  • Example:- Is not Messi Playing for Argentina?
  • If the Subject is “PRONOUN”, “Not” will be placed after “Subject”. 
  • Example:- Are they not studying in college?

Table

Person   Singular       Plural
1stWas I not eating rice?Were we not eating rice?
2ndAre you not eating rice?Were you not eating rice?
3rdWas he or she or it( Pro N) not eating rice?               
Was not John( N) eating rice?		Were they not eating rice?

Other Examples

  1. Was not Ram playing football?
  2. Was she not doing the job?
  3. Were you not reading history?
  4. Were we not doing this work?
  5. Were they not growing crops?

Rules to use of Past Continuous Tense

There are some following rules to be observed for the use of Past Continuous Tense in practical situations –

Rule 1. It is used to refer to an action that was happening at a particular time in the past. For example,

  • At 10:00 p.m., I was studying history.

Rule 2. It is used to indicate a longer action in the past was interrupted by a shorter action. For example,

  • She was playing the guitar when her father came.

Rule 3. We often use past indefinite tense and past continuous tense together to talk about an action that happened while another action was in progress. For example,

  • They were going home when we saw them.
  • It was raining when we got up this morning.
We use the past continuous tense for the action that was in progress. 

We use the simple past tense for the shorter action.

Rule 4. We often use ‘when’ before the shorter action.

  • They were going home when we saw them.
  • When we saw them they were going home.

Past Continuous Tense in Different Sentences

How different types of sentences are formed in the Past Continuous Tense is shown below.

Past Continuous Tense in Different Sentences

Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the Past Continuous forms of the Verbs given in the brackets.

(i) The boys were ……………………………..in the field (play).
(ii) The woodcutter ………………………………a tree in the forest (cut).
(iii) Sujata and her brother……………………………. .quickly in the examination (write).
(iv) Suresh…………………………………………..on a tree (climb).
(v) They. …………………………………………through the rain (run).
(vi) Our pet dog …………………………………….at the street dogs (bark),
(vii) The police …………………………………………at a thief (chase).
(viii) The bird ……………………………………………in the sky (fly).
(ix) The Headmaster and the Secretary ………………………………..to the club (go).
(x) The children ………………………………………………… in the Giant’s garden (play).