PAST CONTINUOUS

TENSE
BY : TANTI A. BOTI
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE IS USED TO
:
1. WHEN TWO ACTIONS OR ACTIVITIES WERE
HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME IN THE PAST

EXAMPLE :
JANE WAS CRUBBING THE FLOOR WHILE MARY
WAS CLEANING THE WINDOWS

SOME PATIENTS WERE WATCHING TV WHILE

OTHERS WERE PLAYING CHEST

CONNECTION : WHILE
2. WHEN ONE ACTION IN THE PAST ( USUALLY
A LONGER ONE ) IS INTERUPTED BY ANOTHER
( USUALLY SHORTER ONE )

EXAMPLE :

1. WHILE JOHN WAS GOING TO SCHOOL THIS

MORNING, A CAR KNOCKED HIM DOWN
2. WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED, MARRY
WAS STANDING AT THE BUS STOP

CONNECTION WORDS : WHEN OR WHILE

3. To express an action that was
continuing at certain time at the past

Contoh :
I was taking eight tablets a day when I was
feeling bad

When I was carrying my youngest child, I got

pain in my side
PATTERN
ACTIVE :

( + ) S + Was / were + V ING , WHEN + S + V. II + O

( - ) S + was / were + not + v ing , When +S + V.II +

o

( ? ) was / were + S + V ing +, when + S + V. II

When was / were + S + V ing ?

EXAMPLE
1. I was redressing the patient’s wound when Mr. Smith
fell out of bed.
2. I wasn’t redressing the patient’s wound when Mr.
Smith fell out of bed
3. Were you redressing the patient’s wound when Mr.
Smith fell out of bed?
4. What were you doing when Mr. Smith fell out of
bed ?
5. Who was redressing the patient’s wound when Mr.
Smith Fell out of bed ?

6. I was walking on the street when I saw the accident

2. when
1. I was talking with my friend when you come
to my house yesterday

2. He was suturing the wound when doctor

called him

3. I was at Mr. Hendric room when you were

coming
while
1. I was bathing a patient while nia was
wheeling Mr. Adam to X ray department

2. I was informing doctor while nurse Anne

monitoring his vital signs

3. She was interviewing a patient while I was

preparing for her bed
dialogue
Nurse A : what were you doing when Mrs. Lucy
fell out of bed ?

Nurse B : I was dressing Mrs. Barnes’ leg at the

other ward when I heard a crash and
saw Mrs. Lucy fall out of bed.
PATTERN
passive :

( + ) S + Was / were + being V III , WHEN + S + V.

II + O

( - ) S + was / were + not + v III , When +S + V.II +

o

( ? ) was / were + S + being v. III +, when + S + V. II

When was / were + S + being v.III ?

Example
1. Medications were being given , when he lost
consciousness

2. He was being lifted onto a stretcher, while

splint was being applied

3. I was being called by doctor, when you tried

to find me