A
Study this example situation:
Yesterday Karen and jim played tennis. They started at 10 o'clock and finished at 11.30.
So, at 10.30 they were playing tennis.
They were playing = they were in the middle of playing.
They had not finished playing.
Was/were -ing is the past continuous:
| I/he/she/it we/you/they |
was were |
playing doing working etc. |
B
I was doing something = I was in the middle of doing something at a certain time. The action or situation had already started before this time, but had not finished:
- This time last year I was living in Brazil.
- What were you doing at 10 o'clock last night?
- I waved to Helen, but she wasn't looking.
C
Compare the past continuous (I was doing) and past simple (I did):
Past continuous (in the middle of an action)
|
Past simple (complete action)
|
D
We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to say that something happened in the middle of something else:
- Matt phoned while we were having dinner.
- It was raining when I got up.
- I saw you in the park yesterday. You were sitting on the grass and reading a book.
- I hurt my back while I was working in the garden.
But we use the past simple to say that one thing happened after another:
- I was walking along the road when I saw Dan. So I stopped, and we had a chat.
Compare:
|
|
E
Some verbs (for example, know and want) are not normally used in the continuous (see Unit 4A):
- We were good friends. We knew each other well. (not
We were knowing) - I was enjoying the party, but Chris wanted to go home. (not
was wanting)
'영어 공부 > English Grammar in Use' 카테고리의 다른 글
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| 007 : Present perfect 1 (I have done) (0) | 2021.10.06 |
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| 004 : Present continuous and present simple 2 (I am doing and I do) (0) | 2021.10.06 |
| 003 : Present continuous and present simple 1 (I am doing and I do) (0) | 2021.10.06 |