Past Continuous Tense: Examples, Formula, Rules, Structure,

Table of Contents

Past Continuous Tense (Progressive Tense)

The Past continuous tense, as the name suggests, is a form of tense used to express actions that were ongoing or taking place at some moment in past. It is also known as the past progressive tense because it represents an action going on in the past tense. Now let’s look at the definitions provided in various dictionaries for the past tense.

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Past Continuous Tense Formula

Subject + was/were + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

However, there are other things to be aware of. You should also learn how sentences are constructed using the past tense of verbs when the verbs are positive, negative, interrogative, and negative interrogative.

Past Continuous Tense Structure

Look at the table below to get a better understanding of the structure of the present tense.

Positive

Negative

Interrogative

Negative Interrogative

Subject + was/were + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

Subject + was/were +not+present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

Was/were + subject + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence?

Was/were+ subject + not+ present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence?(or)

Wasn’t/weren’t + subject + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence?

Examples

She was doing her work.
We were going out for dinner.
I was taking the examination.
They were enjoying the weather.

Examples

She was not doing her work.
We were not going out for dinner.
I was not taking the examination.
They were not enjoying the weather.

Examples

Was she doing her work?
Were we going out for dinner?
Was I taking the examination?
Were they enjoying the weather?

Examples

Was she not doing her work?
Wasn’t she doing her work?
Were we not going out for dinner?
Weren’t we going out for dinner?
Was I not taking the examination?
Wasn’t I taking the examination?
Were they not enjoying the weather?
Weren’t they enjoying the weather?

Past Continuous Tense Uses Rule

Past Continuous Tense also called past progressive tense, is used to describe an action/event that took place at a particular time in the past.

Use to interrupt Action in the Past

Use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. Interruptions are usually short actions in the past tense.

Note that this may be an actual mess or just a time mess.

For examples:

I was watching television when she called me.
She was completing her work when her mother came back.
Children were playing in the park. it started raining.

2. Repetition of events with Always

For examples:

Rohan was always coming to class late.
He was constantly speaking. He annoyed everyone.
I didn’t like my relatives because they were always complaining.

3. Use to define parallel Actions

For examples:

I was learning while he was making dinner.
While Annie was reading, Kim was watching television.
Were you listening while they were talking?

Past Continuous Tense Rules

Rules to be used while writing in the past continuous tense.

Use the helping verb appropriately. With third person singular and ‘I’ ‘was’ will be used, with a plural noun or pronoun ‘were’ will be used.
Add ‘-ing’ in the main action verb.

Past Continuous Tense Examples Sentences

Here are some examples of Past Continuous Tense for the better understanding

Children were going to school. (Positive)
Children were not going to school. (Negative)
Were children going to school? (Interrogative)
Weren’t children going to school? (Negative interrogative)

The boys were playing in the park. (Positive)
The boys were not playing in the park. (Negative)
Were the boys playing in the park? (Interrogative)
Weren’t the boys playing in the park? (Negative interrogative)

The baby was crying out loud. (Positive)
The baby was not crying out loud. (Negative)
Was the baby crying out loud? (Interrogative)
Wasn’t the baby crying out loud? (Negative interrogative)

It was raining then. (Positive)
It wasn’t raining then. (Negative)
Was it raining then? (Interrogative)
Wasn’t it raining then? (Negative interrogative)

I was cooking pasta for lunch. (Positive)
I wasn’t cooking pasta for lunch. (Negative)
Was I cooking pasta for lunch? (Interrogative)
Wasn’t I cooking pasta for lunch? (Negative interrogative)

Miss Peters was teaching in the class. (Positive)
Miss Peters wasn’t teaching in the class. (Negative)
Was Miss Peters teaching in the class? (Interrogative)
Wasn’t Miss Peters teaching in the class? (Negative interrogative)

Past Continuous Tense Exercises

After looking at all the examples given, you should have a really good idea of the past continuous tense. Here is the exercise given below for a better understanding of the concepts:

Q. Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verb given in the bracket:

Janet …………………….. a special dish for her family. (cook)

2. I …………………………… them to complete the work on time. (expect)

3. The students ………………………… a poem on the stage. (recite)

4. The old man ……………………………. on his bed. (sleep)

5. The children ……………………………… sand castles on the beach. (make)

6. The birds ………………………………. on the trees.(sing)

7. The children ……………………………… mangoes. (pick)

8. I …………………………….. a portrait of a lady. (draw)

9. She ……………………….. French. (learn)

10. The kids …………………………. fruits. (eat)

Check your answers

Janet was cooking a special dish for her family. (cook)

2. I was expecting them to complete the work on time. (expect)

3. The students were reciting a poem on the stage. (recite)

4. The old man was sleeping on his bed. (sleep)

5. The children were making sand castles on the beach. (make)

6. The birds were singing on the trees. (sing)

7. The children were picking mangoes. (pick)

8. I was drawing a portrait of a lady. (draw)

9. She was learning French. (learn)

10. The kids were eating fruits. (eat)

Present Continuous Tense in Hindi

भूतकाल निरंतर काल, जैसा कि नाम से पता चलता है, काल का एक रूप है जिसका उपयोग उन क्रियाओं को व्यक्त करने के लिए किया जाता है जो अतीत में किसी क्षण में चल रही थीं या हो रही थीं। इसे भूतकाल के प्रगतिशील काल के रूप में भी जाना जाता है क्योंकि यह भूत काल में चल रही एक क्रिया का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है। आइए अब भूतकाल के लिए विभिन्न शब्दकोशों में दी गई परिभाषाओं को देखें।

विगत सतत काल – सूत्र
विषय + था/थे + वर्तमान कृदंत (क्रिया+आईएनजी) + शेष वाक्य

हालांकि, इसके बारे में जागरूक होने के लिए अन्य चीजें हैं। आपको यह भी सीखना चाहिए कि जब क्रिया सकारात्मक, नकारात्मक, प्रश्नवाचक और नकारात्मक प्रश्नवाचक होती है, तो क्रियाओं के भूतकाल का उपयोग करके वाक्यों का निर्माण कैसे किया जाता है।

Present Continuous Tense Examples in Hindi

बेहतर समझ के लिए यहां पास्ट कंटीन्यूअस टेंस के कुछ उदाहरण दिए गए हैं:

बच्चे स्कूल जा रहे थे। (सकारात्मक)
बच्चे स्कूल नहीं जा रहे थे। (नकारात्मक)
क्या बच्चे स्कूल जा रहे थे? (पूछताछ)
क्या बच्चे स्कूल नहीं जा रहे थे? (नकारात्मक पूछताछ)

लड़के पार्क में खेल रहे थे। (सकारात्मक)
लड़के पार्क में नहीं खेल रहे थे। (नकारात्मक)
क्या लड़के पार्क में खेल रहे थे? (पूछताछ)
क्या लड़के पार्क में नहीं खेल रहे थे? (नकारात्मक पूछताछ)

बच्चा जोर-जोर से रो रहा था। (सकारात्मक)
बच्चा जोर से नहीं रो रहा था। (नकारात्मक)
क्या बच्चा जोर-जोर से रो रहा था? (पूछताछ)
क्या बच्चा ज़ोर ज़ोर से नहीं रो रहा था? (नकारात्मक पूछताछ)

तब बारिश हो रही थी। (सकारात्मक)
तब बारिश नहीं हो रही थी। (नकारात्मक)
क्या तब बारिश हो रही थी? (पूछताछ)
क्या तब बारिश नहीं हो रही थी? (नकारात्मक पूछताछ)

मैं दोपहर के भोजन के लिए पास्ता बना रहा था। (सकारात्मक)
मैं दोपहर के भोजन के लिए पास्ता नहीं बना रहा था। (नकारात्मक)
क्या मैं दोपहर के भोजन के लिए पास्ता पका रहा था? (पूछताछ)
क्या मैं दोपहर के भोजन के लिए पास्ता नहीं बना रहा था? (नकारात्मक पूछताछ)

मिस पीटर्स कक्षा में पढ़ा रही थीं। (सकारात्मक)
मिस पीटर्स कक्षा में पढ़ा नहीं रही थी। (नकारात्मक)
क्या मिस पीटर्स कक्षा में पढ़ा रही थीं? (पूछताछ)
क्या मिस पीटर्स कक्षा में नहीं पढ़ा रही थीं? (नकारात्मक पूछताछ)

Related Articles:

Present Continuous Tense QNAs

Q.1 What is the past continuous tense with examples?

Ans. The Past continuous tense, as the name suggests, is a form of tense used to express actions that were ongoing or taking place at some moment in past. It is also known as the past progressive tense because it represents an action going on in the past tense.
Examples: She was cooking dinner.

Q.2 What are the four types of past continuous tense?

Ans. The four types of Past continuous Tense are as follows
Positive, Negative, Interrogative, and Negative interrogative.

Q.3 When past continuous is used?

Ans. Past Continuous Tense also called past progressive tense, is used to describe actions that were ongoing in the past.

Q.4 What is the structure of the past continuous tense?

Ans. The structure of the past continuous tense is

Subject + was/were + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

Q.5 What are 5 examples of past continuous tense?

Ans. 5 examples of Past Continuous Tense are given below:
Boys were playing in the park.
Children were making noise in the class.
My mother was cooking dinner.
Miss Peters wasn’t teaching in the class.
Wasn’t I cooking pasta for lunch?

I hope you have understood the topic clearly. Stay updated!