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Past Continuous Tense

In the past continuous tense, the action was ongoing till a certain time in the past. This
tense is used to talk about an action at a particular time in the past.

Past Continuous Tense and its Uses

Construction: was/were + present participle

Passive: was/were + being + past participle

The past continuous is typically used for an activity that was ongoing at a certain
¤
point in the past.

For example:

1. What were you doing when your father shouted at you?

2. This time last week I was basking in the sun on the beach.

An activity that was interrupted by a certain happening in the simple past is in the past
¤
continuous.

For example:

1. I was doing my rehearsal when a power cut disturbed my concentration .
2. We were approaching the summit when there was a flash of lightning .

The past continuous is used to indicate the situation that was ongoing when a certain
¤
single action took place.

For example:
1. The bell rang just as the meal was being served .

2. I realized he was lying .

3. I turned back, but Pawan was already disappearing round the corner.

In some cases, such as descriptive passages in stories, only the ongoing situation is
¤
mentioned.

For example:

1. You weren’t listening , were you?

2. A dog was barking somewhere along the street.

Verbs that represent a gradual change in a past context are often in the past
¤
continuous.

For example:

1. The children were growing fast. 2. The seed was growing slowly.

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Grammar