Whe do you use past progessive(past continue)

Question

Hi, I'm new. I speak spanishCan you help me. I don't know when you use past progessive.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

aguilaI don't know when you use past progessive.

It can be optionally substituted for simple past when you want to indicate that the action is ongoing.

He whistled a tune as he walked to the store.

He was whistling a tune as he was walking to the store.

There's not much difference in the meaning.

Welcome to English Forums, aguila. Thanks for joining us! [<:o)]

Best wishes, - A.

CalifJim · Answer

1. Two activities at the same time.

Sandra was writing a letter while her mother was sweeping the floor.
Tom was changing a light bulb while Lucy was watching TV.
Helen was throwing a ball and her dog was retrieving it.

The progressive is not always required in this pattern:

Sandra wrote a letter while her mother swept the floor. (Same meaning as above.)

2. An activity that was going on when an interrupting event occurred.

Sandra was reading a book when the lights went out.
Henry was looking for his glasses when he came across a strange notebook.
Wendy was talking on the phone when she heard a knock on the door.

3. For verbs that represent an instantaneous event, to indicate the stages leading up to the event.

Larry won the race. (occurs at an instant in time.)
Larry was winning the race. (It was just before the end of the race, and it looked like he was going to win.)

The old woman died. (occurs at an instant in time)

The old woman was dying. (It was just before the end of her life, and it looked like she was going to die.)

The plane landed. (occurs at an instant in time)
The plane was landing. (It was just before the plane landed, and it looked like the plane was going to land.)

4. To present a situation as a past activity when just the simple past might indicate an past event.

Peter knocked on the door. (event - portrayed as a single act)
Peter was knocking on the door. (activity - spent some time doing this)

Diane walked through the park. (event - portrayed as a single act)
Diane was walking through the part. (activity - spent some time doing this)

Frank cleaned the carpets. (event - portrayed as a single act)
Frank was cleaning the carpets. (activity - spent some time doing this)

5. Non-progessive verbs, of course, are not used in the progressive tenses, so note these below:

I was knowing about it. - Wrong. Should be I knew about it.

She was wanting a new car. - Wrong. Should be She wanted a new car.

We were being there before the others. - Wrong. Should be We were there before the others.

CJ

Whe do you use past progessive(past continue)

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