Σχηματισμός: was / were + present participle (I was playing/was I playing?/I wasn’t playing)
Παράδειγμα: was + listen + ing = was listening
Περιγράφουμε μια πράξη:
1. Που συνέβαινε σε μια συγκεκριμένη στιγμή στο παρελθόν (δεν γνωρίζουμε πότε άρχισε, δεν γνωρίζουμε πότε τελείωσε):
At 8 o’clock last night father was watching a news programme.
2. Δύο (ή περισσότερες) πράξεις που συνέβαιναν την ίδια στιγμή (παράλληλες πράξεις):
The children were playing while mother was talking on the phone.
3. Που συνέβαινε και διακόπηκε από μία άλλη:
- As Nick was speaking, the lights went out.
- Mary was listening to music when I gave her a call.
4. Μια ιστορία (το σκηνικό της) στο παρελθόν δηλαδή, στην ουσία, όταν περιγράφουμε κάτι. Ο Αόριστος εδώ χρησιμοποιείται μόνο για την αφήγηση (walked) :
When the teacher walked into the classroom some of the pupils were chasing each other and some others were busy writing pop song lyrics on the board!
Να θυμάστε:
έπαιξα > played ……………………έπαιζα > was playing
έτρεξα > ran…………………………έτρεχα > was running
έφαγα > ate………………………….έτρωγα > was eating
διάβασα > read…………………….διάβαζα > was reading
μίλησα > spoke……………………..μίλαγα > was speaking
Key Words:
- while (καθώς, ενώ)
- as (καθώς)
- when (όταν)
Exercise.
1. Pete ___ was jogging ___(jog) in the park when he suddenly ____ saw _______(see) a colourful snake creeping around the bushes.
2. While I ___ was having ____(have) a coffee, my friend, Tom, __ walked ___(walk) into the cafeteria.
3. Dad __ was washing ___(wash) the car while my mum and sister ___ were preparing___(prepare) lunch.
4. __ Was ___father ___ sleeping ____(sleep) when you went into the bedroom?
5. It ___ was snowing ___(snow) when the plane touched down Heathrow airport.
6. The little boy ___ was riding ___(ride) his bike when he heard the dog barking.
7. We ___ were listening ___(listen) to the teacher when we ___ felt ___(feel) the earthquake.
8. __ Was ____ mum__ cooking ___(cook) when you entered the kitchen?
9. The baby __ was crying ___(cry) while his mother __ was changing ____ (change) him.
10. What __ were ____the boys__ doing ___(do) out in the street at 9.00 in the morning?
Μερικές ακόμα χρήσεις που είναι αρκετά…χρήσιμες.
1. Ο Past Continuous επίσης χρησιμοποιείται στον Indirect Speech (reported speech).
(Ο Present Continuous γίνεται Past Continuous)
- He said, ‘She is playing tennis.’
- He said that she was playing tennis.
2. Με το always. Για να δείξει ότι κάποιος ήταν ενοχλημένος στο παρελθόν από κάποιον άλλον.
- Mary was always talking about her long legs. She used to get on my nerves!