PAST CONTINUOUS: TEORÍA

El pasado continuo se utiliza para acciones que estaban pasando en un

momento específico en el pasado (Idea de progreso).
• Se usa para una acción en desarrollo en el pasado cuando otra
acción la interrumpe. La acción que interrumpe está en el pasado
simple. “When” señala el uso del pasado simple y continuo. En
general, usamos el pasado simple directamente después de
“when”.
o He was walking to work when he fell.
• Se usa el pasado continuo para hablar sobre acciones en un tiempo
específico en el pasado.
o We were working at 10 o’clock yesterday.
• Se usa el pasado continuo para dos acciones que estaban
ocurriendo al mismo tiempo en el pasado. Usamos “while” para
marcar simultaneidad y en este caso ambos verbos van en
gerundio.
o Maxi called while I was having a shower.

STRUCTURE (+)
Sujeto + verbo auxiliar (to be) + Verbo en gerundio (ing) + (complemento)

I was I wasn't
You were You weren't
He was He wasn't
She was She wasn’t playing.
It was It wasn’t
We were We weren’t
They were They weren’t

Ejemplo:
• Your dog was playing with its toys when I arrived.
STRUCTURE (?) (-):
• Verbo auxiliar (to be) + Sujeto+Verbo en gerundio (ing) +
Complemento + ?
• Sujeto + verbo auxiliar (to be) + Negación + Verbo en gerundio (ing)
+ (complemento)

Was I I was. I wasn’t.

Were you you were. you weren't.
Was he he was. he wasn’t.
Was she playing? she was. she wasn’t.
Was it it was. it wasn’t.
Were we we were. we weren't
Were they they were. they weren't

Ejemplo:
• I was not studying English at that time.
• Were you playing videogames when I entered the room?
A- Complete the sentences with the past continuous form:

1. I ___________________(make) my dinner at 8 o’clock last night.

2. Who was that guy you _____________(dance) with at the party?
3. Paula ____________________ (come) home from school when
she saw an accident.
4. In 1999 my father ____________________ (live) in Dublin.
5. He ___________________ (open) the box when he cut his finger.
6. This time last week, we __________________ (visit) my
grandmother.
7. I ____________________ (sit) at the back of the classroom so I
couldn’t see the screen.
8. Andrew ____________________ (insert) a photo into his
document when the teacher stopped the class.
9. I ____________________ (start) to do my homework when my
friend sent me a message.

B- Complete the sentences with the past simple or the past

continuous form of the verbs in brackets:

1. I ____________________ (switch off) the computer because it

____________________ (make) a strange noise.
2. My dad ____________________ (listen) to classical music when
I ____________________ (arrive) home from school.
3. We ____________________ (play) video games when my mum
____________________ (say) ‘Turn the volume down!’
4. My cousin ____________________ (meet) his wife, Bianca, while
he____________________ (live) in Italy.
5. My little sister ____________________ (draw) a picture while I
____________________ (study) for my French exam.
6. While they ____________________ (try) to fix the computer, all
the lights ____________________ (go out).
7. When we ____________________ (leave) school yesterday, it
____________________ (pour) with rain.
8. When you____________________ (see) Paul,
he____________________ (wear) a black jacket?
9. I____________(try) to log on when the Wi-Fi____________(stop)
working.
10. While Dad _____________ (print) an article, the printer
_____________ (run out) of paper.