Past Continuous

2. The Past Continuous tense is used
with the past tense of the verb BE (ser
o estar), according to the subject and
the simple form of the principal verb by
adding_ing(present participle). In this
case, BE is an auxiliary verb and the
principal verb expresses the action in
the sentence.

3. Affirmative Statements
I was studying the lesson.
He was reading a book.
We were playing tennis.
They were copying the sentences.
Bob was buying a car
Sally were going to the library.
The teacher was writing the exercises from the board.
The students were pronouncing the new words in class.

4. Negative Statements
I wasn’t studying the lesson.
He wasn’t reading a book.
We weren’t playing tennis.
They weren’t copying the sentences.
Bob wasn’t buying a car
Sally wasn’t going to the library.
The teacher wasn’t writing the exercises from the board.
The students weren’t pronouncing the new words in class.

5. QUESTIONS ANSWERS
Affirmative Negative
Were you studying the lesson? Yes, I was. No, I wasn’t.
Was he reading a book? Yes, he was. No, he wasn’t.
Were you playing tennis? Yes, we were. No, we weren’t.
Were they copying the sentences? Yes, theywere. No, theyweren’t.
Was Bob buying a car? Yes, he was. No, he wasn’t.
Was the teacher writing the exercises? Yes, she was. No, she wasn’t.
Were the students pronouncing the new words? Yes, theywere. No, theyweren’t.

6. PRACTICE
 Writ e t hese sent ences in past cont inuous wit h t he verbs in parent heses. See t he
example:
 A lice (read) a book of poems: _A lice was reading a book of poems.___
 They (pronounce) t he new words in class: _They were pronouncing the new words in
class._
 Pat t y (visit ) her parent s last week.
 We (wat ch) T. V. yest erday evening.
 The st udent s (learn) t he new vocabulary in class.
 I (st udy) t he English lessonlast night .
 M r. Clark (work) in his of f ice unt il lat e yest erday.