English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [past-continuous]

Questions related to the past continuous or past progressive, which expresses an action that was ongoing in the past.

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Why is 'Pete wasn't studying very hard when he was at university.' incorrect?

Pete wasn't studying very hard when he was at university [1]. The instruction of the question on the exercise I was doing is determining which one sentence is incorrect. The key answer says the sentence above is incorrect, but it doesn't explain…
user516076
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is it possible to use the past continuous with before?

Is it possible to use the past continuous with before? For example: We were watching television before you arrived last night. Or is simple past the only option?
anouk
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Could this sentence be considered correct?

“Those are the people who had been living in the mansion for a year.” The people are still alive. They are not living there anymore.
Fens
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past or past continuous with exact time period

They were playing(play) football yesterday from 13:00 to 15:00. They played(play) football yesterday from 13:00 to 15:00. At 8.30am today I was driving(drive) to work. At 8.30am today I drove(drive) to work. We were sleeping(sleep) at 11pm. when…
JN Raju
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Past simple vs continuous m

I have studied a lot about the past simple and continuous. I know that we use the past simple when we state a fact and that the continuous is used to create the background. My question is I hear that people say "what did you do yesterday" and not…
train bee 282
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Past Continuous for background info

Let's suppose my friend missed a lecture by our professor Mr. Johnson today and he (my friend) wants to find out how it was. How was the lecture? Not much, Mr Johnson was telling jokes, so we learned nothing. As far as I understand, Past…
Mr. Past Progressive
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Using past continuous for future event, is it for formality?

There's a sentence taken from Hewing's book (the writer of Advanced Grammar in Use): Write v if the italicized parts are correct. If they are wrong, correct them. We are meeting at seven in the Globe coffee bar. Can you be there, too? The key…
user516076
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Continuous aspects with “for the third time” and “for three times”

Context: I walked a dog three times today. “I was walking a dog for the third times today.” “I was walking a dog for three times today.” Are both valid expressions?
Gate Pending
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How can "start" be used in past continuous?

Another multiple-choice question: What were you doing when Lucy phoned you? I had just finished my work and _____ to read a book. The answer is "was starting." I think the answer is wrong by itself. Since "start" is a transient verb, it can't be…
HypnoticBuggyWraithVirileBevy
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I was going to say

Joe: Y’know, I don’t think that people really appreciate their parents until they get older. I mean, at least I can say that about myself. And I think it’s true of, y’know, here in America. Kristin: Yeah, I was gonna say in this culture, anyway.…
sami
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past simple vs past continuous (Interrupted event)?

What's wrong with this sentence ? Last night ,I was being a little sleepy when my friends called me ! according to this article : FUNCTIONS OF THE PAST CONTINUOUS to describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by another event or action,…
Towfik Alrazihi
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Past perfect (could've been) meaning in context

In these sentences Once the objectives of the project were determined, the initiation stage was completed. Therefore the work could have been directed to planning the execution. does the phrase "could have been..." indicate that the aforementioned…
Oscar
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Is the past continuous wrong in "I was working for 2 hours"?

Basically, I asked two teachers about this sentence "I was working for 2 hours". One told that it is incorrect because the past continuous needs some additional context like "I was working for two hours when I saw her". Second said that this…
Bob
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The use of past continuous

I know that we use past simple for repeated actions for instance: 'when I was little I went to that school' or 'I worked in that firm for three years' and saying 'I was working in that firm for three years' when I just want to state a fact. Is that…
train bee 282
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Past Cont. example from Grammar in Use textbook

I haven't seen David for ages. The last time I saw him, he was trying to find a job in Miami This sentence comes from Raymond Murphy's grammar in use (AmE edition) I've been told many times that Past Continuous provides background info for main…
Mr. Past Progressive
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