In English we use the past continuous to talk about an action taking place during a period of time in the past. We usually use it with past simple.
The table below shows the different forms of past continuous :
Example verb : study | I / He / She / It | You / We / They |
Positive | ... was studying. | ... were studying. |
Negative | ... wasn't studying. | ... weren't studying. |
Questions | Was ... studying? | Were ... studying? |
Short answers | Yes, ... was. / No, ... wasn't. | Yes, ... were. / No, ... weren't. |
In English we use the past continuous to show that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the past simple. This can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Past Continuous Examples Sentences :
Positive Examples of Past Continuous :
Negative Examples of Past Continuous :
Question Examples of Past Continuous :
In English we can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples Sentences :
When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it means that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples Sentences :
Past continuous example sentences | |
---|---|
I think she definitely understood I was lying! | 彼女、私が嘘ついてるって絶対に分かってるわよ! |
When I came, you were at the bar getting yourself a beer. | 来た時は、君はバーでビールを頼んでいたよ。 |
I was wondering where that chorizo smell was coming from. | このチョリソーの香りはどこから来てるんだろう。 |
Thank god you weren't looking for red wine! | 君が赤ワインを探してなくて良かったよ! |
I was planning on stirfrying some red peppers and mushrooms! | 僕はいくつかの唐辛子とマッシュルームを炒めるつもりだったよ! |
Oh, I see, she was talking about it last night! | ああ、なるほど。彼女、昨晩そのことを話してたよ! |
I can't believe it, I was planning to sleep till 9 today! | 信じられない。今日は 9 時まで寝るつもりだったのに! |
Yes, I already made myself a coffee while you were sleeping. | えぇ、もう自分でコーヒー作ったの、あなたが寝ている間に。 |
The other day, you complained about how loud I was snoring. | いつか、私のいびきがうるさいって文句言ってたじゃない。 |
Yes, sorry, I was thinking of getting stock powder at the shop. | えぇ、ごめんなさい、お店でパウダーのブイヨンを買うつもりだったのよ。 |
Really? What was she saying? | ほんとに? 何て言ってたの? |
Hm, why was he begging the fairy to turn him into a real kid then? | それじゃあ、ピノキオが妖精に自分を本当の男の子にしてと頼んだのはどうしてだい? |
I was planning on cooking some meat, originally. | そもそも僕は今日お肉を料理するつもりだったんだ。 |
Alright Nick, what were you saying? | おいニック。何を言ったんだよ? |
Once when Bear was little, we were walking along a dark street... | かつてベアが小さかった頃、暗いストリートを歩いていたんだ。 |
And you pretended you didn't know I was living here. | しかも私がいることも知らないふりしてたのね。 |
You were saying something about the wardrobe before. | 前に衣装ダンスのことで何か言ってたよね。 |
Noone was paying attention to your "precious" bag. | だれも君の大切なバッグに注意していなかったよ。 |
Yeah, it wasn't only Pogo, she was complaining about everything! | ああ、それだけど、ポゴだけじゃないよ。彼女、どんなことにも文句を言ってたんだ! |
I was just trying to be more realistic! | 少しでもリアルにしようとしただけよ! |