Past Continuous
The past continuous describes an action that was in progress at a moment in the past. It is formed with was / were + verb-ing. Its most typical job is to set the scene: it provides the background against which shorter, completed events happen.
Learning objectives
- Form the past continuous for all subjects.
- Use it for background, interruptions and simultaneous actions.
- Use when and while correctly.
- Apply the -ing spelling rules.
Meaning and usage
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Action in progress at a past moment | At eight o'clock I was having dinner. |
| Background to a story | The sun was shining and the birds were singing. |
| An interrupted action | I was reading when the phone rang. |
| Two simultaneous actions | She was cooking while he was working. |
| Temporary past situation | That summer I was living with my grandparents. |
| Repeated irritating action | He was always losing his phone. |
The form
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / he / she / it | was working | wasn't working | Was he working? |
| you / we / they | were working | weren't working | Were they working? |
Short answers: Yes, I was. / No, they weren't. No did is used, because be is the auxiliary.
Spelling rules for -ing
| Ending | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | add -ing | watch → watching |
| silent -e | drop the e | write → writing; drive → driving |
| one vowel + one consonant, stressed | double the consonant | sit → sitting; run → running |
| -ie | ie → y | lie → lying |
When and while
| Word | Usually followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| while | the longer action (continuous) | While I was cooking, the phone rang. |
| when | the shorter action (past simple) | I was cooking when the phone rang. |
| as | simultaneous actions | As we were leaving, it started to rain. |
When the clause comes first, it is followed by a comma: While I was cooking, the phone rang.
Stative verbs
As in the present, stative verbs avoid the continuous. Use the past simple instead: I knew the answer, not I was knowing.
A comparison with the past simple
| Past continuous | Past simple |
|---|---|
| action in progress, unfinished | complete action |
| I was watching TV at nine. | I watched TV at nine. |
| background | main event |
| It was raining. | It rained for two hours. |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I was read a book. | I was reading a book. | the -ing form is required |
| Did you were sleeping? | Were you sleeping? | no did with be |
| You was working. | You were working. | you takes were |
| While I cooked, the phone was ringing. | While I was cooking, the phone rang. | the longer action takes the continuous |
| I was knowing him. | I knew him. | stative verb |
| He was writting. | He was writing. | drop the e, no doubling |
Learning tips
- Picture a film: the past continuous is the scenery, the past simple is the action.
- Remember the pairing: while + continuous, when + simple.
- Describe what you were doing at three fixed times yesterday. It produces the tense naturally.
Summary checklist
- Is it was/were + -ing?
- Is was with singular and were with plural and you?
- Did I avoid did?
- Is the verb dynamic, not stative?
Shpjegim në gjuhën shqipe
Rregulli i anglishtes, i shpjeguar në shqip
Kjo kohë ndërtohet me was ose were plus foljen me mbaresën -ing. Folja ndihmëse është be, prandaj pyetja bëhet me përmbysje dhe mohimi me not; did nuk përdoret kurrë.
Ajo tregon një veprim në zhvillim në një çast të së shkuarës. Përdorimet kryesore janë katër: veprim që po ndodhte në një orë të caktuar; sfond i një rrëfimi; veprim i gjatë i ndërprerë nga një veprim i shkurtër; dhe dy veprime që zhvilloheshin njëkohësisht.
Lidhëzat when dhe while ndajnë punën midis tyre: while shoqëron zakonisht veprimin e gjatë në formën e vazhduar, kurse when shoqëron veprimin e shkurtër në kohën e shkuar të thjeshtë.
Rregullat e drejtshkrimit të -ing janë të njëjta si te koha e tashme e vazhduar. Foljet e gjendjes nuk e marrin këtë formë.
Ekuivalenti në gjuhën shqipe
Ekuivalenti më i afërt në gjuhën shqipe është e pakryera: lexoja, punoja, flisja. Kur theksohet vetë çasti, shqipja shton edhe pjesëzën po: po lexoja.
| Anglisht | Shqip |
|---|---|
| At eight I was having dinner. | Në orën tetë po haja darkë. |
| The sun was shining. | Dielli shkëlqente. |
| I was reading when the phone rang. | Po lexoja kur ra telefoni. |
| She was cooking while he was working. | Ajo gatuante ndërsa ai punonte. |
| He was always losing his keys. | Ai i humbte gjithmonë çelësat. |
Ku ndryshojnë dy gjuhët
- Forma. Anglishtja e ndërton me dy fjalë (was reading); shqipja me një të vetme (lexoja), të cilës mund t’i shtohet po.
- Detyrueshmëria. Në anglisht forma e vazhduar është e detyrueshme për veprimin sfond. Shqipja e lejon të pakryerën edhe pa po, prandaj folësit e shqipes shpesh përdorin gabimisht të shkuarën e thjeshtë angleze.
- Zakoni. Shqipja e shpreh zakonin e së shkuarës me të pakryerën: Çdo ditë shkoja në shkollë. Anglishtja këtu nuk përdor formën e vazhduar, por I went ose I used to go.
Gabime të zakonshme të folësve të shqipes
| Gabimi | E saktë | Pse |
|---|---|---|
| I was read a book. | I was reading a book. | kërkohet forma me -ing |
| Did you were sleeping? | Were you sleeping? | ndihmësja është be |
| You was working. | You were working. | you merr were |
| I was going there every day. | I went there every day. | zakoni nuk merr formën e vazhduar |
| I was knowing him. | I knew him. | folje gjendjeje |
