Past Continuous

The Past Continuous (его также называют Past Progressive) описывает действие, которое было в процессе в определённый момент в прошлом. Оно строится из глагола be в прошедшем времени плюс форма -ing основного глагола.

At nine o'clock last night, I was reading a book.

Действие началось до девяти и всё ещё продолжалось в девять. Именно это продолжающееся, незавершённое качество отличает Past Continuous от Past Simple.

Форма

Структура одинакова для каждого глагола: was/were + verb-ing.

SUBJECT	WAS/WERE	VERB-ING
I / he / she / it	was	working
you / we / they	were	working

She was writing an email.

The children were playing outside.

Выбирайте was для подлежащих в единственном числе (кроме you) и were для подлежащих во множественном числе и для you.

Отрицание

Добавьте not после was/were. В повседневном английском сокращения встречаются чаще.

FULL FORM	CONTRACTION
was not	wasn't
were not	weren't

He wasn't listening to the instructions.

We weren't expecting any visitors.

Вопросы

Перенесите was/were перед подлежащим.

Вопросы «да/нет»:

Was she working at eight?

Were they waiting for you?

Wh-вопросы — поставьте вопросительное слово первым, затем was/were + subject + verb-ing:

What were you doing at midnight?

Where was Daniel going when you saw him?

Действие в процессе в конкретный момент прошлого

Это самое базовое употребление. Назван момент в прошлом, и Past Continuous показывает, что действие уже происходило в этот момент.

At seven this morning, Anna was jogging in the park.

I was still working at eleven last night.

This time yesterday, we were flying over the Alps.

Конкретное время может быть временем по часам (at 6 PM), фразой с датой (yesterday evening) или более длинным периодом (all morning, all day).

They were painting the house all afternoon.

She was studying for her exam the whole weekend.

Фоновое действие, прерванное более коротким событием

Это образец, с которым изучающие сталкиваются чаще всего. Более длинное действие уже в процессе (Past Continuous), а более короткое событие врывается в него (Past Simple).

I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.

Sarah was crossing the street when she heard someone call her name.

While James was driving to work, a deer ran across the road.

Длинное действие не обязательно прекращается — оно может продолжаться после прерывания. Суть в том, что оно уже происходило, когда случилось короткое событие.

Maria was sleeping when the alarm went off.

We were having lunch when the lights went out.

While и when

While обычно вводит более длинное, фоновое действие (Past Continuous). When обычно вводит более короткое, прерывающее действие (Past Simple).

While I was walking home, it started to rain.

I was walking home when it started to rain.

Оба предложения описывают одну и ту же ситуацию. Порядок слов меняется, но смысл остаётся прежним: walking — более длинное действие, started to rain — прерывание.

Оба слова гибки. Иногда вы встретите when с Past Continuous и while с Past Simple, но приведённый выше образец гораздо более распространён.

Два параллельных действия

Когда два более длинных действия происходили в одно и то же время, оба ставятся в Past Continuous. Связкой обычно служит while.

While I was cooking, Daniel was setting the table.

The kids were doing their homework while their parents were watching the news.

She was talking on the phone while he was making coffee.

Маркеры времени

Некоторые слова и фразы регулярно появляются с Past Continuous.

Время по часам и фразы с датами: at 8 o'clock last night, at midnight, yesterday afternoon, this time last week

Фразы длительности: all morning, all afternoon, all evening, all day, the whole time

Связки: when, while, as

As the train was pulling into the station, I grabbed my bag.

She was practising the piano all evening.

Правописание формы -ing

Большинство глаголов просто добавляют -ing: work — working, read — reading, sleep — sleeping.

Несколько образцов стоит отметить.

Глаголы на -e опускают e перед добавлением -ing: write — writing, make — making, drive — driving.

Короткие глаголы на одну гласную + одну согласную удваивают конечную согласную: run — running, sit — sitting, stop — stopping.

Глаголы на -ie меняют ie на y: lie — lying, die — dying.

Глаголы состояния

Некоторые глаголы описывают состояния, а не действия — know, want, believe, understand, like, love, need, prefer. Эти глаголы обычно не употребляются в continuous-временах, включая Past Continuous. Используйте вместо этого Past Simple.

I knew the answer. (not I was knowing the answer)

She wanted to leave early. (not She was wanting to leave early)

Несколько глаголов имеют и stative, и dynamic значение. С dynamic-значением continuous-форма уместна.

Think (мнение): I thought you were right.

Think (мыслительный процесс): I was thinking about the problem when you called.

Частые ошибки

Согласование was/were

I were watching TV

I was watching TV

She were reading a book

She was reading a book

They was playing outside

They were playing outside

Пропуск -ing

He was watch the game

He was watching the game

We were talk about it

We were talking about it

Неправильное время для прерывания

I was cooking when the phone was ringing

I was cooking when the phone rang

She was reading when someone was knocking

She was reading when someone knocked

Глаголы состояния в continuous

I was knowing the answer

I knew the answer

She was wanting to leave

She wanted to leave

Путаница While/when

When I was sleeping, the alarm went off

While I was sleeping, the alarm went off

While the phone rang, I was reading

When the phone rang, I was reading

At nine o'clock last night, I was reading a book.

Форма

Структура одинакова для каждого глагола: was/were + verb-ing.

SUBJECT	WAS/WERE	VERB-ING
I / he / she / it	was	working
you / we / they	were	working

She was writing an email.

The children were playing outside.

Отрицание

Добавьте not после was/were. В повседневном английском сокращения встречаются чаще.

FULL FORM	CONTRACTION
was not	wasn't
were not	weren't

He wasn't listening to the instructions.

We weren't expecting any visitors.

Вопросы

Перенесите was/were перед подлежащим.

Вопросы «да/нет»:

Was she working at eight?

Were they waiting for you?

Wh-вопросы — поставьте вопросительное слово первым, затем was/were + subject + verb-ing:

What were you doing at midnight?

Where was Daniel going when you saw him?

Действие в процессе в конкретный момент прошлого

At seven this morning, Anna was jogging in the park.

I was still working at eleven last night.

This time yesterday, we were flying over the Alps.

They were painting the house all afternoon.

She was studying for her exam the whole weekend.

Фоновое действие, прерванное более коротким событием

I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.

Sarah was crossing the street when she heard someone call her name.

While James was driving to work, a deer ran across the road.

Maria was sleeping when the alarm went off.

We were having lunch when the lights went out.

While и when

While I was walking home, it started to rain.

I was walking home when it started to rain.

Два параллельных действия

While I was cooking, Daniel was setting the table.

The kids were doing their homework while their parents were watching the news.

She was talking on the phone while he was making coffee.

Маркеры времени

Некоторые слова и фразы регулярно появляются с Past Continuous.

Время по часам и фразы с датами: at 8 o'clock last night, at midnight, yesterday afternoon, this time last week

Фразы длительности: all morning, all afternoon, all evening, all day, the whole time

Связки: when, while, as

As the train was pulling into the station, I grabbed my bag.

She was practising the piano all evening.

Правописание формы -ing

Большинство глаголов просто добавляют -ing: work — working, read — reading, sleep — sleeping.

Несколько образцов стоит отметить.

Глаголы на -e опускают e перед добавлением -ing: write — writing, make — making, drive — driving.

Глаголы на -ie меняют ie на y: lie — lying, die — dying.

Глаголы состояния

I knew the answer. (not I was knowing the answer)

She wanted to leave early. (not She was wanting to leave early)

Несколько глаголов имеют и stative, и dynamic значение. С dynamic-значением continuous-форма уместна.

Think (мнение): I thought you were right.

Think (мыслительный процесс): I was thinking about the problem when you called.

Частые ошибки

Согласование was/were

I were watching TV

I was watching TV

She were reading a book

She was reading a book

They was playing outside

They were playing outside

Пропуск -ing

He was watch the game

He was watching the game

We were talk about it

We were talking about it

Неправильное время для прерывания

I was cooking when the phone was ringing

I was cooking when the phone rang

She was reading when someone was knocking

She was reading when someone knocked

Глаголы состояния в continuous

I was knowing the answer

I knew the answer

She was wanting to leave

She wanted to leave

Путаница While/when

When I was sleeping, the alarm went off

While I was sleeping, the alarm went off

While the phone rang, I was reading

When the phone rang, I was reading

Past Continuous

Форма

Отрицание

Вопросы

Действие в процессе в конкретный момент прошлого

Фоновое действие, прерванное более коротким событием

While и when

Два параллельных действия

Маркеры времени

Правописание формы -ing

Глаголы состояния

Частые ошибки

Другие уроки по этой теме

Past Continuous

Форма

Отрицание

Вопросы

Действие в процессе в конкретный момент прошлого

Фоновое действие, прерванное более коротким событием

While и when

Два параллельных действия

Маркеры времени

Правописание формы -ing

Глаголы состояния

Частые ошибки

Другие уроки по этой теме