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Formation and usage of the Past Continuous tense.
The Past Continuous describes an action or situation that was in progress at a particular time in the past.
It focuses on the activity as ongoing rather than simply stating that it happened.
At eight o'clock last night, I was studying.
Вчера в восемь часов вечера я учился.
Action in progress at a specific past time.
She was cooking dinner when I arrived.
Она готовила ужин, когда я пришёл.
Ongoing action interrupted by another.
They were playing football all afternoon.
Они играли в футбол весь день.
Activity continuing over a period.
We were watching a film when the power went out.
Мы смотрели фильм, когда отключилось электричество.
Background action interrupted.
The Past Continuous is formed with was or were followed by the present participle of the main verb.
The basic structure is subject + was or were + verb-ing. For example, I was working and They were studying.
I was working.
Я работал.
was + verb-ing for I.
She was sleeping.
Она спала.
was + verb-ing for she.
They were studying.
Они учились.
were + verb-ing for they.
You were reading a book.
Ты читал книгу.
were + verb-ing for you.
Use was with I, he, she, and it, and use were with you, we, and they.
For example, I was reading, She was sleeping, and They were waiting.
I was reading.
Я читал.
was with I.
He was playing.
Он играл.
was with he.
They were waiting.
Они ждали.
were with they.
We were working.
Мы работали.
were with we.
The main verb usually takes the -ing form in the Past Continuous, sometimes with spelling changes.
For example, work becomes working, make becomes making, run becomes running, and lie becomes lying.
work → working
работать → работающий
Most verbs add -ing.
make → making
делать → делающий
Drop final e before -ing.
run → running
бегать → бегущий
Double final consonant after short vowel.
lie → lying
лежать → лежащий
Change ie to y before -ing.
Affirmative Past Continuous sentences use was or were followed by the -ing form of the main verb.
For example, She was cooking dinner and We were watching a film.
She was cooking dinner.
Она готовила ужин.
was + cooking.
We were watching a film.
Мы смотрели фильм.
were + watching.
He was reading a newspaper.
Он читал газету.
was + reading.
They were playing outside.
Они играли на улице.
were + playing.
Form negative sentences by adding not after was or were.
For example, I was not sleeping and They were not paying attention.
I was not sleeping.
Я не спал.
was not + verb-ing.
They were not paying attention.
Они не обращали внимания.
were not + verb-ing.
She was not working.
Она не работала.
Negative.
We were not listening.
Мы не слушали.
Negative.
Form Past Continuous questions by placing was or were before the subject.
For example, Was she working? Were they waiting? and What were you doing?
Was she working?
Она работала?
Yes/no question.
Were they waiting?
Они ждали?
Yes/no question.
What were you doing?
Что ты делал?
Wh-question.
Where was he going?
Куда он шёл?
Wh-question.
Short answers repeat was or were instead of the main verb.
For example, Yes, I was. No, she was not. Yes, they were.
Were you sleeping? — Yes, I was.
Ты спал? — Да.
Short answer.
Was she working? — No, she wasn't.
Она работала? — Нет.
Negative short answer.
Were they waiting? — Yes, they were.
Они ждали? — Да.
Short answer.
Was he reading? — No, he wasn't.
Он читал? — Нет.
Negative short answer.
Use the Past Continuous for an activity that was happening at a particular moment in the past.
For example, At eight o’clock last night, I was studying.
At eight o'clock last night, I was studying.
Вчера в восемь часов вечера я учился.
Specific time: at eight o'clock.
This time yesterday, we were flying to Rome.
Вчера в это время мы летели в Рим.
Specific past time.
She was working at three o'clock.
В три часа она работала.
Specific time.
They were having dinner at seven.
В семь они ужинали.
Specific time.
The Past Continuous is often used to provide background information in a story.
It describes what was already happening when another event occurred. For example, The sun was shining and people were walking through the park.
The sun was shining and people were walking through the park.
Светило солнце, и люди гуляли по парку.
Background description in a story.
It was raining, and the wind was blowing.
Шёл дождь, и дул ветер.
Setting the scene.
The children were playing while their parents were talking.
Дети играли, а родители разговаривали.
Background activities.
I was sitting in a café when I saw the accident.
Я сидел в кафе, когда увидел аварию.
Background action before main event.
Use the Past Continuous for an action that was in progress when another action interrupted it.
The ongoing action usually uses the Past Continuous, while the interrupting event usually uses the Past Simple. For example, I was sleeping when the phone rang.
I was sleeping when the phone rang.
Я спал, когда зазвонил телефон.
Past Continuous interrupted by Past Simple.
She was cooking dinner when the fire alarm went off.
Она готовила ужин, когда сработала пожарная сигнализация.
Interruption.
They were walking down the street when they met an old friend.
Они шли по улице, когда встретили старого друга.
Interrupted action.
He was driving home when the car broke down.
Он ехал домой, когда машина сломалась.
Interruption.
When and while can introduce clauses describing actions and events in the past.
While is commonly used with an ongoing action in the Past Continuous. When often introduces the shorter event that happened during or interrupted another action.
While I was cooking, the phone rang.
Пока я готовил, зазвонил телефон.
While + continuous, when/simple event.
When I arrived, she was watching TV.
Когда я пришёл, она смотрела телевизор.
When + simple, continuous background.
While they were playing football, it started to rain.
Пока они играли в футбол, начался дождь.
While + continuous.
She was reading when the lights went out.
Она читала, когда погас свет.
When + simple, continuous background.
Use the Past Continuous to describe two or more actions that were happening simultaneously.
For example, While I was cooking, my brother was setting the table.
While I was cooking, my brother was setting the table.
Пока я готовил, мой брат накрывал на стол.
Two simultaneous continuous actions.
She was reading a book while he was playing the guitar.
Она читала книгу, пока он играл на гитаре.
Parallel activities.
The children were drawing while the teacher was explaining.
Дети рисовали, пока учитель объяснял.
Simultaneous actions.
We were watching the match while they were preparing dinner.
Мы смотрели матч, пока они готовили ужин.
Two parallel actions.
The Past Continuous can describe temporary situations or activities around a particular period in the past.
For example, At that time, she was staying with her parents.
At that time, she was staying with her parents.
В то время она жила у родителей.
Temporary past living situation.
He was working on a special project last month.
В прошлом месяце он работал над специальным проектом.
Temporary work.
We were staying at a hotel during the renovation.
Во время ремонта мы жили в отеле.
Temporary accommodation.
I was studying for exams that week.
На той неделе я готовился к экзаменам.
Temporary activity.
The Past Continuous can describe situations that were changing or developing during a period in the past.
For example, The weather was getting colder and the situation was becoming more difficult.
The weather was getting colder.
Погода становилась холоднее.
Change over time in past.
The situation was becoming more difficult.
Ситуация становилась всё сложнее.
Developing situation.
The company was growing rapidly.
Компания быстро росла.
Past development.
His health was improving.
Его здоровье улучшалось.
Change in progress.
The Past Continuous can be used with always or similar adverbs to describe repeated actions, often expressing annoyance or criticism.
For example, He was always losing his keys.
He was always losing his keys.
Он постоянно терял ключи.
Annoying habit with always.
She was constantly checking her phone during the meeting.
Она постоянно проверяла телефон во время встречи.
Criticism.
They were continually complaining about the weather.
Они постоянно жаловались на погоду.
Repeated behaviour with annoyance.
My neighbour was always playing loud music at night.
Мой сосед постоянно включал громкую музыку по ночам.
Annoying habit.
The Past Continuous describes an action in progress, while the Past Simple usually describes a completed event.
Compare I was walking home when I saw Anna. The walking was in progress, and seeing Anna was a completed event.
I was walking home when I saw Anna.
Я шёл домой, когда увидел Анну.
Continuous action interrupted by simple event.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
Когда зазвонил телефон, она писала письмо.
Simple event interrupts continuous.
They were playing tennis when it started to rain.
Они играли в теннис, когда начался дождь.
Continuous + simple.
He was reading a book while she was cooking.
Он читал книгу, пока она готовила.
Two continuous actions, but this is also overlap; contrast with simple.
The Present Continuous describes an action happening around now, while the Past Continuous describes an action that was happening around a time in the past.
Compare I am working now with I was working at eight o’clock.
I am working now.
Я сейчас работаю.
Present Continuous: around now.
I was working at eight o'clock.
В восемь часов я работал.
Past Continuous: specific past time.
She is reading a book.
Она читает книгу (сейчас).
Present.
She was reading a book when I called.
Она читала книгу, когда я позвонил.
Past.
The Past Continuous describes an activity in progress at a particular past time, while the Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes an activity continuing up to another point in the past.
Compare I was working at six with I had been working for three hours before she arrived.
I was working at six.
В шесть я работал.
Past Continuous: action in progress at a time.
I had been working for three hours before she arrived.
Я работал уже три часа, прежде чем она пришла.
Past Perfect Continuous: duration before another past point.
They were waiting when we got there.
Они ждали, когда мы туда пришли.
Past Continuous.
They had been waiting for an hour before we arrived.
Они ждали уже час, прежде чем мы пришли.
Past Perfect Continuous.
Stative verbs are not normally used in continuous forms when they describe states rather than actions.
Verbs such as know, believe, understand, own, and belong usually use the Past Simple instead. For example, I knew the answer, not I was knowing the answer.
I knew the answer.
Я знал ответ.
Stative: not "I was knowing".
She believed in ghosts when she was a child.
В детстве она верила в привидений.
Stative: past simple.
They owned a small house near the sea.
У них был небольшой дом у моря.
Stative possession.
He understood the problem.
Он понимал проблему.
Stative: not continuous.
The Past Continuous is often used with expressions that identify a period or moment in the past.
Common expressions include at five o’clock, at that moment, this time yesterday, all evening, and when.
At five o'clock, I was reading a book.
В пять часов я читал книгу.
At + specific time.
At that moment, she was talking to the manager.
В тот момент она разговаривала с менеджером.
At that moment.
This time yesterday, we were flying to Rome.
Вчера в это время мы летели в Рим.
This time yesterday.
All evening, they were dancing.
Весь вечер они танцевали.
All evening.
Use the Past Continuous to create the setting and background for events in a story.
It can describe what people were doing, what the weather was like, or what was happening before the main events occurred.
The sun was setting and a cool breeze was blowing as she walked home.
Солнце садилось, дул прохладный ветер, когда она шла домой.
Setting the scene.
People were hurrying along the street, and taxis were waiting at the corner.
Люди спешили по улице, а на углу ждали такси.
Background action in narrative.
While I was preparing dinner, the children were doing their homework.
Пока я готовила ужин, дети делали уроки.
Parallel background actions.
It was raining heavily and the wind was howling all night.
Всю ночь шёл сильный дождь и завывал ветер.
Atmospheric background.
Use was or were followed by the correct -ing form, and choose the Past Continuous only when the action is viewed as ongoing.
Common mistakes include using was or were with the base form, confusing was and were, using the Past Continuous for every past action, and using it incorrectly with stative verbs.
I was work at eight o'clock.
В восемь часов я работал.
Incorrect: need -ing form: "I was working".
They was playing football.
Они играли в футбол.
Incorrect: use "were" with they.
She was knowing the answer.
Она знала ответ.
Incorrect: stative verb "know" not used in continuous.
I was watched TV at 9 p.m.
В 9 вечера я смотрел телевизор.
Incorrect: need -ing form: "was watching".
Were you sleeping? — Yes, I were.
Ты спал? — Да.
Incorrect: short answer should be "Yes, I was".