Past continuous tense

Past continuous tense

The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past and is still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or incomplete action in the past.

be (was, were) + verb + ing = past continuous/progressive.

Short form of auxiliaries: wasn't, weren't = was not, were not

The past progressive tense functions:

1. continuing action, something that was happening, going on, at some point in

    the past.

I was riding my bike all day yesterday.

2. a limited duration of time while something else was happening.

He lost his watch while she was running.

3. incomplete action

I was sleeping on the couch when mother came in.

4. an action that is inconstant but habitual in nature.

My father was always lecturing my brother.

5. two parallel actions happening at the same time (in the past).

I was studying while mother was making dinner.

Spelling rules:

a) if the syllable is stressed we double the last consonant and then add -ing.

commit - committing

swim - swimming
run - running

b) if the syllable is not stressed we don't double the last consonant.

open - opening

c) If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y.

lie - lying

die - dying

d) If the base verb ends in e, omit the e.

come- coming