Se usa el pasado continuo:
• Para hablar sobre una acción no terminada en un punto del pasado
He was playing football at half past four yesterday. (El estaba jugando fútbol a las cuatro y media ayer).
• Para hablar de 2 acciones -una siendo más larga que la otra que interumpe la acción anterior
I was cooking when the doorbell rang. (Estaba cocinando cuando alguien llamó a la puerta).
Hay que recordar que se puede usar when + pasado simple para hablar de 2 acciones consecutivas en el pasado:
I bought my ticket when the train arrived. (Compré mi billete cuando el tren llego).
Cuando se usa la palabra while (mientras) normalmente se usa el pasado continuo.
I listened to the news while I was driving. (Escuché las noticias mientras estaba conduciendo).
Important:
There are some verbs that can´t be used in the continuous form in English. Here´s a short list:
• believe
• hear
• see
• sound
• understand
• want
• like
GRAMATICA
FORMA AFIRMATIVA
SUBJECT+VERB BE+VERB–ING+COMPLEMENT
I was walking home
We Were Talking with they.
FORMA INTERROGATIVA
VERB BE+SUBJECT+VERB–ING+COMPLEMENT
was she reading the classified ads?
Were they making dinner?
FORMA NEGATIVA
SUBJECT+VERB BE+NOT + VERB –ING+COMPLEMENT
I Was NOT (wasn’t) walking home
We Were NOT (weren’t)talking With
• The past continuos describe what was in progress at a specific moment in the past.
• Use the past continuos to describe a past scene.
• EXAMPLE: Maryanne was talking with the landford. She was standing by the windows and pointing at the air conditioner
Spelling Tips
• To make the present participle add ‘ing’ : Finish --> finishing
• If the verb ends in one vowel and one consonant you need to double the consonant:
Stop --> stopping
• If the verb ends in ‘e’ remove the ‘e’ before adding ‘ing’ : Take --> taking
1. Practice making the present participle with these infinitives: cut, think, wash, wear, break, come, go, do, sit - click here for the correct answers
• Have a go at this exercise to practise using the past simple and continuous then click here for the correct answers
1. I ................(read) a magazine when it ................(start) to rain.
2. Some friends ……………..(arrive) while we …………….(watch) television.
3. He …………….(cook) dinner when he ………….. (receive) a text message from his girlfriend.
4. They …………….(play) football when the storm …………….(begin).
5. What ……………………..(you/do) yesterday at 3 pm?
6. ………………(you/study) when I ………………..(ring) you last night?
7. He …………….(can) sleep because the baby …………..(cry).
8. She……………(arrive) as the train was ……………….(leave) the station.
9. The children ………..(listen) while the teacher ………..(explain) the answers.
10. I…………….(listen) to the radio when I…………..(receive) your email.
2. Ordena las palabras y forma las oraciones usando el PASADO CONTINUO/PASADO PROGRESIVO en forma correcta.
EXAMPLE: sleeping / was / she. She was sleeping.
1.- Bo – taking - shower – a – was
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2.- eating – he – was – breakfast - ?
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3.- room – the – was – Vu – painting - ?
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4.- were - children – the – dinner – eating
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5.- I – talking – on – was – the – phone - ?
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6.- studying – were – we - not
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7.- making – were – they – breakfast - ?
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8.- I – painting – hanging – was – a
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3. Complete el párrafo. Use la forma de pasado continuo de los verbos del cuadro.
WALK EAT PAY SIT SLEEP ADD TALK
LAUGH LOOK WRITE
1. Last night Maryanne an Vu______________in the living room. They_________________also____________about there finances. Maryanne ______________________down all their experiences. Vu________________up the numbers. The children___________________in their rooms.
2. I saw the Nguyens in the park yesterday. Vu and Maryanne_________________very slowly. They___________________at all the trees and flowers. Truyen____________________his bycicle. Bao ________________an ice cream cone. The girls____________________about something. They all looked very happy.
