15.1 Usage:

A: To describe an event, activity or situation that happened in the past for a period of time:

e.g. On Sunday, I was walking for three hours.

B: To describe an event, activity or situation happening in the past at the same time as another event happened.

e.g. Henry was speaking to Mary when Jane arrived.

C: To describe a scene or situation in a story or report.

e.g. It was snowing and the trees were looking beautiful when the accident happened.

15.2 Usage: Exceptions:

The Past Continuous Tense is not normally used:

A: to describe habitual or often repeated events:

e.g. The tourists climbed Mont Blanc three times in three weeks. (not were climbing)

B: Verbs of "thinking". to believe, doubt, forget, know, mean, to think (meaning to have an opinion), remember, understand:

e.g. I believed what he said ( not was believing)

C: Verbs of "feeling". to dislike, hate, like, love, want, wish:

e.g. While I was speaking to John, I wanted to be with Mary ( not was wanting)

D: Verbs of "possession". to belong, have (meaning to possess), own, want:

e.g. When he was in Germany, Brian owned a large Mercedes ( not was owning)

E: Particular verbs. to appear, cost, need, prefer, recognise, see (except when it means to meet), seem, taste, weigh:

e.g. All last year, it cost [[sterling]]200 to fly to Canada ( not was costing)

15.3 Structure:

The general rule for construction of the Past Continuous Tense of all verbs is:

The Simple Past Tense of the auxiliary verb to be + infinitive + -ing.

e.g. I was speaking to my mother this morning.

15.4 Structure: Negatives:

In negative statements, not is put after the auxiliary verb and before the verb ending -ing:

AUX V

e.g. positive: The King was sailing to Norway.

negative: The King was not sailing to Norway.

15.5 Structure: Questions:

In questions, reverse the positions of the auxiliary verb and the subject.

S AUX V

e.g. statement: Anna was enjoying the race.

AUX S

question: Was Anna enjoying the race?

S AUX V

statement: John was running fast.

QW AUX S V

question: Why was John running fast?