Unit 23: PAST CONTINUOUS

This formation usually means 'past -- for a limited period of time'. We use the past tense of the auxiliary verb be (Unit 17) before the -ing form of the lexical verb (Unit 3).

Formation (be + -ing form)

STATEMENTS

EXAMPLES:
I was working all yesterday morning.
He wasn't doing anything.
The climate was changing at the time.
They were not enjoying themselves.

QUESTIONS

EXAMPLES:
What were you doing at 9:45 last night?
Where was he going?
Who was helping him?

NOTICE: For spelling problems with the -ing form of the verb, look at Appendix 6.

Use

PAST ACTIVITY OR TEMPORARY HABIT

EXAMPLES:
Between 10 and 11 last night, I was reading.
They were getting up early that month.

BACKGROUND ACTIVITY IN THE PAST

EXAMPLES:
She was welding a pipe when the phone rang.
By the time they reached the pipeline, the surveyors were already finishing their last shots.

ARRANGEMENTS IN THE PAST

EXAMPLE: Everybody was excited because they were leaving for home the next day.

NOTICE:
Past continuous or past simple? (Unit 40)
Past continuous or used to? (Unit 40)

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Exercise 23.1
Exercise 23.2