Past Continuous Tense Definition With Examples

Past Continuous Tense

Definition: The past continuous tense is used to show actions as they were happening in the past. These actions may have been interrupted, going on at the same time, or been constant in a negative way. The form this tense, combine “was/were” + present participle (verb + “ing”).

Definition in Hindi For Indian Users:

पहचान: इन वाक्यों के अंत में  रहा था /रही थी /रहे थे आता है।
जैसे:
राम जा रहा था।
वे खेलने जा रहे थे।
सीता पढने जा रही थी।

There Are Generally Four Uses For This Tense:

1. Past actions which have been interrupted. You do not need to mention the specific time, only the fact that the action was stopped for something else.

Examples:
>She WAS EATING when the doorbell rang.
>They WERE LEAVING when he reminded them to pack a snack.

2. Past actions interrupted by a specific time. This doesn’t mean that the action stopped happening, simply that it was ongoing when a certain time came.

Examples:
>At 10AM we WERE LEAVING the house.
>He WAS DRIVING when the rain started at 2pm.

3. Actions which were happening at the same time as each other. For this use, you must list at least 2 actions which were ongoing simultaneously.

Examples:
>I WAS RIDING my bike as he WAS DRIVING home.
>WAS he WATCHING a movie while we WERE MAKING dinner?

4. Constant actions in the past, which were causing negative emotions. Use words like “always” to signify this.

Examples:
>She WAS always TAKING all the candies.
>We WERE always ARRIVING late when he drove us.

Rule For How To Make Tense:

If Sub=I or Singular(एकवचन) Then:

1. Sub+was+Verb+ing
2. Sub+wasn’t+Verb+ing
3. How+was+Sub+Verb+ing
4. Why+wasn’t+Sub+Verb+ing

If Sub= You, or Plural(बहुवचन) Then:

1. Sub+were+Verb+ing
2. Sub+weren’t+Verb+ing
3. How+were+Sub+Verb+ing
4. Why+weren’t+Sub+Verb+ing

Affirmative:

• The child was drinking milk.
• I was working on computer.
• Both of them were taking tea.
• Many of us were getting tired.
• It was raining heavily.

Negative:

• She was not taking any decision.
• You were not making him angry.
• The children were not studying properly.
• It was not frightening him.
• They were not expecting anything.

Interrogative:

• Was he drawing on the paper?
• Were you not solving the problems?
• Who was making him angry?
• Why was she not telling anything?
• How was your brother preparing for exam?

Example In Hindi And English :

1. Affirmative Sentence Example :

• मैं रेत पर खेल रहा था।
  I was playing on the sand.
• वह अपनी बहन के साथ बात कर रही थी।
  She was talking to her sister.
• वह खाना खा रही थी।
  She was eating the food.
• मैं परीक्षा की तैयारी कर रही थी।
  I was preparing for the examination.
• हम सड़क पर घूम रहे थे।
  We were walking on the road.
• वे अपना घर सजा रहे थे।
  They were decorating their house.
• बच्चा पालने में सो रहा था।
  The baby was sleeping in the cradle.
• मैं अपना पाठ याद कर रहा था।
  I was learning my lesson.
• अध्यापिका वाइट बोर्ड पर लिख रही थीं।
  The teacher was writing on the white-board.

2. Negative Sentence Example :

• लोग पोस्टर इकट्ठा नहीं कर रहे थे।
  People were not collecting poster.
• वह कीचड़ में नहीं खेल रही थी।
  She was not playing in the mud.
• हम गलत दिशा में नहीं जा रहे थे।
  We were not going in the rong direction.
• वह उत्सव के लिए तैयार नहीं हो रही थी।
  She was not getting ready for the festival.
• मदारी अपने खेल नहीं दिखा रहा था।
  The juggler was not showing his tricks.
• वे नृत्य नहीं सीख रहे थे।
  They were not learning dancing.
• वे ऑफिस में कार्य नहीं कर रहे थे।
  They were not working in the office.
• अँधेरा नहीं हो रहा था।
  It was not getting dark.

3. Interrogative Sentence Example :

• क्या वे मैच जीत रहे थे?
  Were they winning the match?
• क्या वे मन्दिर जा रही थीं?
  Were they going to temple?
• क्या वह मोटर साइकिल चलाना सीख रहा था?
  Was he learning how to drive a motor cycle?
• क्या तुम खेल नहीं रहे थे?
  Were you not playing?
• क्या वह घर साफ कर रहा था?
  Was he cleaning the home?
• क्या हम रेडियों नहीं सुन रहे थे?
  Were we not listenning the radio.
• क्या दुश्मन अपनी सुरक्षा कर रह थे?
  Were the enemies defending themselves?
• क्या वह नाश्ता बना रहा था।
  Was he cooking breakfast?

Exercise for practice :

1. तुम खराब बल्लेबाजी कर रहे थे।
2. मैं साइकिल चलाना सीख रहा था।
3. वे रिश्वत नहीं ले रहे थे।
4. तूफान नहीं आ रहा था।
5. क्या तुम अपने कपडे नहीं खरीद रहे थे?
6. क्या वह झूठ नहीं बोल रहा था?
7. क्या मैं सो नहीं रहा था ?
8. वे सात बजे खेल नहीं रहे थे।
9. लडके नदी में नहा रहे थे।
10. हम खेलों में भाग नहीं ले रहे थे।