We use it with finished actions, states or habits in the past when we have a finished. This use is very similar to how we use the present perfect simple, and often its possible to use either tense. The main difference among both is that in past continuous tense the action takes place in past. Learn how and when to use the past continuous tense or past progressive in english with useful grammar rules, example sentences and esl printable worksheets. The past continuous tense is formed by combining the past tense of to be i. We were having lunch when someone knocked on the door.
Learn how and when to use the past continuous tense or past progressive in english. An action in the past which overlaps another action or a time. Without continued time reference, such sentences are future continuous tense. Past continuous tense negative past continuous tense questions esl games snakes and ladders past progressive past simple sign in recent site activity. The past continuous tense, also known as the past progressive tense, refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past. If two actions happened in the past, past perfect is used to show the action that took place earlier. Apr 03, 2020 it can also be said as types of verb present tense, past tense and past participle. The action in the past continuous starts before and often continues after the other shorter action or time. English tenses exercises simple present tense simple past tense present perfect past perfect future 1 future perfect goingtofuture active and passive voice if. Mainly the formula used in present continuous tense is written as following. We use the past continuous tense to say that something was going on around a particular time in the past. Tenses examples including tense meaning and 12 types of tenses with examples and formula are well described. Singular plural 1st person i was walking we were walking 2nd person you were walking you were walking 3rd person he, she, it was walking they were walking. The past continuous tense i was sleeping free english grammar lesson duration.
Past continuous exercise 1 perfect english grammar. Past perfect tense used to describe an action completed before a certain moment in the past, usually a long time ago. Past continuous progressive tense grammar rules explanations, positivenegative statements. Apr 11, 2014 past continuous tense rules with examples. May 05, 2018 the past continuous, or past progressive, tense describes an action or situation that began in the past and is still going on in the present time.
Past continuous tense is very similar to present continuous tense. Use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. Past continuous tense past tenses in english, it is used to express a continued or ongoing action in past, an ongoing action which occurred in past and completed at some point in past. Past continuous tense the past continuous tense refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past. The past continuous, or past progressive, tense describes an action or situation that began in the past and is still going on in the present time. Of course, with stative verbs, we cant use the present perfect continuous. The action is incomplete or continuous or going on. We always use the present participle form of the verb as the main verb in a sentence. Using the past continuous or past progressive tense download this explanation in pdf here. Past continuous tense is used to mention an ongoing action of the past. We use the past progressive to set the scene and emphasise the process or duration of a past action.
It points out an action which started in the past and continued in a certain time period. The past continuous is easily formed by pairing up the verb to be with a verb ending in ed instead of ing e. Apr 04, 2020 additionally active and passive voice worksheets are also available in pdf downloadable format. You can do the exercises online or download the worksheet as pdf. The past continuous of any verb is composed of two parts. Solve following direct and indirect speech exercise for past continuous tense for great understanding and practice of narration rules and regulations. Pdf exercises worksheets with answers on the past continuous tense. The action had not finished at a particular time in the past. Get our basic english grammar ebook pdf want to download all the grammar lessons to learn offline. Nov 18, 2015 the present continuous tense is used for 1. Complete list of past continuous forms use 1 interrupted action in the past use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted.
Mar 29, 2014 present continuous tense rules with examples. Live worksheets english english as a second language esl past continuous past continuous past continuous students have different activities to practice past continuous affirmative, negative, questions. On the same note, rules of past continuous tense are also quite similar to present continuous tense. Learn the difference between the simple past and the past progressive in english grammar online with lingolia. The past perfect continuous is partly like the present perfect continuous, but it refers to a continuous action that was finished at some point in the past. An action, that continued for some time in past, are expressed in past progressive tense. The past continuous also called past progressive is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing past action was happening at a specific moment of interruption, or that two ongoing actions were happening at the same time.
When talking about an action which has happened in the past, you will need to use the past simple tense. Like in present continuous tense, if starting time of the action is given and action remain continued, the past continuous tense becomes past perfect continuous tense. The simple past tense is only used to say that something happened at some time in the past. Functions of the past continuous the past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past and were still going on when. Oct 02, 2018 in todays lesson, i am going to teach you all about the past continuous tense in urdu and hindi languages. Note that the simple past form is the same for all persons. The past continuous tense an elementary grammar worksheet fromanna grammarz the past continuous tense has these uses. After adding continuous time for two hour it becomes past perfect continuous and will be translated as. Direct and indirect speech basic rules indirect speech for. However, before you can begin confidently using this tense, it is important to learn the rules which surround it. Try making the past continuous or past progressive tense this exercise includes the positive and negative forms. The past continuous 1 practice using the past continuous verb tense in english esl printables grammar tests vocabulary training listening comprehension reading comprehension other esl tools.
We use it whenever we want to talk about the past and we dont have any special situation that means we should use the past perfect, present perfect, past continuous, etc. Find active and passive voice exercises with answers pdf and active and passive voice rules chart and get a deep insight of learning. The past continuous and simple past tenses are commonly used together. The simple past and the past continuous are two tenses commonly used to make general statements about the past. Past perfect continuous tense basic english speaking. I recognized that i had been doing nonsense things to change her. Although they are both past tenses their uses are quite different. Actions which are happening at or around the moment of speaking. I was having past continuous a bath when the telephone rang simple past. Learn the past simple tense with this english grammar video lesson. Present continuous exercises 1 present continuous exercises 2. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the simple past. Past continuous tense rules with examples careersplay. In this case, the simple past tense is used to refer to the shorter action that happens in the middle of a longer background action.
Past continuous means someone or something in the middle of an action that was going on. It expresses past actions having an ongoing nature. The action is complete, finished or perfect with respect to a certain point of time. Past continuous tense 1 past continuous exercises 2 simple past vs past continuous simple past vs. There are few rules with the help of which you can identify present continuous tense easily. If there is no time reference, then it is not a future perfect continuous tense. We use the simple past to express completed, sequential actions. Try some more exercises about the past continuous here. It includes 40 basic english grammar lessons covering most of the english grammar tenses and mostused structures. All the continuous actions come into the categories of present continuous tense. Live worksheets english english as a second language esl past continuous past continuous past continuous students have different activities to practice past. Simple past or past progressive english tense comparison. Read morereported speech exercise past continuous tense.
Click here to download this exercise in pdf with answers. In the free exercises, you can practise these tenses. The past progressive tense past continuous describes ongoing actions that continued for a specific stretch of time in the past and ended. She said, we were going to an annual trip she told that they had been going to an annual trip. Continuous tense past simple tense past continuous tense past perfect tense past perfect continuous. Future perfect continuous tense it is used to talk about actions that will commence at a fix time in future and will continue for some time in future. The simple past describes a completed action in a time before now and things that happen one after another in the past.
Present continuous tense simple present rules simple present vs continuous simple past tense past continuous tense subject exercises. Active and passive voice rules and exercises past continuous. She told that she had been going to an annual trip. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time. We can also use the past continuous to refer to the present or future in hypotheses when we imagine something. English grammar past continuous rules and exercises. Past continuous tense past tells us that it has already happened continuous tells us that it was an ongoing action.
754 1412 1180 923 908 483 1356 380 191 1362 742 1058 600 339 844 252 54 907 577 1085 1489 219 708 185 477 291 96 576 638