Questions tagged [past-continuous]
Questions related to the past continuous or past progressive, which expresses an action that was ongoing in the past.
163
questions
0
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1answer
23 views
Confuse between past tense and past progressive
So this is the question:
Instruction: Complete the sentences. Use the past progressive in the while-clauses. Use the simple past in the when -clauses.
When my best friend (call) _______ last night,...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
I was working while I was studying at college
I was working while I was studying at college, is it correct?
And how to tell about past actions for example:
'In college I had a subject 'Web design' where I was making a static web-page', is it ...
3
votes
1answer
125 views
Past Perfect Continuous vs Past Simple
My teacher says that it's not correct to answer the test
"How long (rain) yesterday?"
as "How long did it rain yesterday?"
She says there is only one way to do the problem with "how long" in the past ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Past continous adverb placement
In the phrase:
The stock scandal was extremely damaging to his company's reputation.
What is the verb tense? I think "was damaging" is past continuous and "extremely" is an adverb modifying "...
0
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0answers
45 views
Past tense and simultaneous events: do you use two Past Progressive or two Past Simple?
I was told that for two simultaneous events occurring in the past, you should use Past Progressive, such as:
"While I was setting the table, she was cooking dinner."
But that two Past Simple ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Tense-Usage: Past simple/ Past perfect/ Present Perfect + Until now?
Which tense should I use with the expression until now?
I've been feeling lonely... until now (as I've met you)
I'd been feeling lonely... until now (as I've met you)
I was feeling lonely....
0
votes
1answer
28 views
In which tense is more common to use in this context?
I have a two tenses / ways to express my situation but I'm not sure what's more natural.
I rushed / was rushing to the class, and when I arrived I found that nobody is there.
"I rushed to the ...
2
votes
2answers
353 views
doubt between Past Continuous and Past Simple
In the book English Grammar In Use by Raymond Murphy they gave the example for Past Continuous - ´Today Helen is wearing a skirt. Yesterday she was wearing trousers´. Please explain to me why it isn´t ...
2
votes
2answers
46 views
Before the party: Question about the past perfect continuous tense
I am trying to understand better the correct way to use the past perfect continuous tense. In particular, what is the difference between:
Before the party, he had been telling everyone how happy he ...
0
votes
2answers
36 views
was or did? What do I need to use?
I was reading poetry.
or
I did reading poetry.
What the option is right and why?
0
votes
1answer
45 views
The difference between Past Simple vs Past Continuous vs Used to & every day
Which tense should I use if I was on holidays which lasted 2 weeks and during that time I rode a bike every day?
It was a great time because I rode a bike every day.
It was a great time ...
3
votes
1answer
186 views
Difference between Past continuous and Past perfect continuous
In these following sentences, which one is grammatically correct?
They were playing football since 10 o'clock.
They had been playing football since 10 o'clock.
According to this reference ...
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vote
3answers
46 views
What is the difference in meaning between the grammar structure “it is nice doing something” and “it is nice to be doing something”?
What is the differnce in meaning between the following sentences?
It is nice working with John.
It is nice to be working with John.
0
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0answers
14 views
The difference between the past simple and the past continuous in context [duplicate]
Tell me please the difference in meaning between the following sentences.
I watched TV while Kate did the dishes.
I was watching while Kate was doing the dishes.
Help me please to see the ...
-1
votes
2answers
5k views
What is the difference between “he was saying”, “he says” and “he said”?
Are there any shades of meaning between the use of the past continuous, present simple and past simple in the following sentences?
He was saying that he is going to leave soon.
He says that he ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Past continuous and simple past
Yesterday Sue was walking along the road when she met James. He ......... (go) to the station to catch a train and he was carrying a bag. They stopped to talk for a few minutes.
Which one is correct ,...
2
votes
2answers
45 views
Should you use a plain/continuous verb after a past continuous one? E.g. 'I was feeling the fear rise/rising up…'
As an example to illustrate my question:
I was feeling the fear rise up, trying to stop me, when...
I was feeling the fear rising up, trying to stop me, when...
I'm not sure what this type of ...
1
vote
1answer
100 views
“spied” vs “was spying”
I'm studying Barron's 504 absolutely essential words and came across this sentence:
"When the bank guard spied the sinister-looking customer, he drew his
gun"
but it seems odd to me..we are ...
0
votes
2answers
32 views
past simple vs past progressive
Yesterday Sue ____________ (walk) down the street when she met James. He was going to the station to catch a train, and he was carrying a bag. They stopped to talk for a few minutes.
The correct ...
1
vote
1answer
500 views
“where did you sit” vs. “where were you sitting”
I'm a little confused about the difference between this two sentences. Can you explain the exact meaning and all differences between this two?
Where did you sit last section?
Where were you ...
0
votes
2answers
92 views
usage of 'while' and 'when'
I met many interesting people while I was living in Vancouver.
Can I change the sentence above to the sentences below? Do they have slightly different meanings?
I met many interesting people when ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
difference between past simple and past continuous - when I called her
When I called her, she was studying.
I know what it means.
When I called her, she studied.
But does the second sentence mean she started studying when I called her?
2
votes
1answer
35 views
past simple and past continuous - that summer
He was staying in Rome that summer.
He stayed in Rome that summer.
Can I use the two sentences above interchangeably? Or do they have slightly different meanings?
0
votes
2answers
304 views
Past tenses of Scuba-diving
Are these two sentences correct?
A. Past continuous: We were mainly Scuba-Diving while we were there.
B. Past Simple: Last week we Scuba-dove?
1
vote
3answers
62 views
Why is it “She wrote articles” and not “she has written” or “she was writing”?
Why is the past simple and not the present perfect used in the following context?
One day, Jack told Anne about John’s life in Canada. She wrote articles for her school Internet magazine. And she ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Which tense should be used in this situation?
I am confused about what tense I should use in this situation.
He ______ (can) picture his brother's face more clearly now, because he had saved the life of a fourteen-year-old boy, who remarkably ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
drove or was driving?
Is it true that if I say "Joe got a ticket because he drove too fast", this means that Joe drove too fast as a habit and instead I should say "Joe got a ticket because he was driving too fast"?
Is ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Why using the past continuous tense when the action has already finished?
Past continuous tense
The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now,
which began in the past and is still going on at the time of speaking.
In other words, it expresses ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
“Words were different when they (lived / were living) inside of you”
“Words were different when they lived inside of you.”
― Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
Shouldn't it be "...when they were living inside of you."?...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
Past Progressive + BEFORE/AFTER + Gerund
Tom Cruise was thinking of a career in the church before finding job in the movies.
Tom Cruise wasn't thinking of a career in the church after finding job in the movies.
Please tell me, why is ...
-3
votes
1answer
282 views
weren't going vs didn't go [duplicate]
I already asked a question about “weren’t playing” vs. “didn’t play”. I’m not sure if the same rules apply in an example like this one:
The weather was very bad, so we didn't go north.
vs
The ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
weren't playing vs didn't play
Did your team win the football match yesterday?
The weather was very bad, so we weren't playing.
vs
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
Is the first one not correct? Why is it?
1
vote
1answer
77 views
past simple/continuous with a specific time
I was driving too fast last night.
I drove too fast last night.
I want to know if the past simple and continuous can both be used in this case, because usually the past continuous is used for ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Equality of continuous and perfect tenses (in a certain context)
Would they be both correct and equal in the same context (just to mention the fact) if I said TODAY:
(1)It has been raining all day.
(2)It is raining all day.
Would they be both correct and ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Can I use past continuous here?
A:..Then I sent you a message from the cafe to to say where I was
last night.
B: I didn't get any texts from you yesterday! I tried to phone
you but there was no answer.
I have two ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
Past Continuous with while
The sentence:
The boy stole / was stealing the apples while nobody was looking / looked.
Question: Which variant is more appropriate?
2
votes
1answer
274 views
Past Simple Passive vs Past Simple with 'follow'
Here is an extract from my grammar practice book.
A young man was walking through a supermarket. Suddenly he noticed that
he (follow) by an old lady.
As far as I understand, in that situation we ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Past Continuous vs Past Simple difference in meaning
Could you, please, help me understand this dialogue from my English textbook?
A: Why was Ann crying before?
B: She had been training for the finals for over a week before she found out she had ...
1
vote
2answers
3k views
Is “I was wanting to know” grammatically correct? [duplicate]
Is the following sentence grammatically correct:
I was wanting to know if I could sent you a link.
It does not sound correct to me.
1
vote
1answer
29 views
“the thing someone did was do something” or “the thing someone did was doing something”?
Here is what I have found in Crash Course US history at 13 minute and 4 second, and it really confused me.
Whereas if you are an american arguably the most important thing the leader of this era ...
1
vote
2answers
3k views
Past Simple and Past Perfect. “I had seen” or “I saw” him a few days before he left
Yesterday I saw this sentence in some test without any context:
I ... (see) him a few days before he ... (leave).
My answer was "I'd seen him a few days before he left", but it was wrong.
Right ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
using past continuous tense with tomorrow
What does this mean?
like I wasn't dreading tomorrow enough having to give it back to him
I saw this in friend's series and I don't understand it.
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Why did the author use past continuous in that sentence
I came from a scene that is more punk than the garage scene. The first concerts I was going to were punk, like at the MIROITRIE.for a year Then I went to Canada for a year
Why "was going"? Why past ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
past continuous or present perfect continuous
If I play football since I was eight years old and still I am playing football I should say I have been playing football since I was eight.
But if I started playing football when I was eight and then ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
it is possible to combine present perfect continuous and past perfect continuous in a sentence?
Can we describe a continuous action after/before another continuous action in the same sentence using different continuous tenses?
For instance something like that:
Before I have been reading ...
2
votes
1answer
192 views
How to express something that is happening in the future
If something is being written in the past tense, is it correct to say:
He was graduating high school in June and entering college in August?
How should it be stated?
3
votes
1answer
38 views
Past Perfect Continuous vs Past Continuous difference in meaning
In my grammar text book there is a sentence describing Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous difference. I understand the difference between those two tenses, but there is another thing that makes ...
1
vote
2answers
135 views
Past Perfect Continuous vs Past Continuous/Past Simple
Doing a grammar task I found this:
A: Did you go out last night?
B: No, 1) _____(work) all day, so I 2) _____(stay) in and 3) _____(watch) TV.
The key says that the only option here is
1) had been ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
is the past continuous with a duration better than the past perfect continuous in that case?
I was looking for him for 8 hours when I have found him
I had been looking for him for 8 hours when I have found him
Are both sentences equivalent in meaning? I think the second one stress the ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
I was meeting vs. I met
I was meeting some friends at a bar.
I met some friends at a bar.
was meeting - past continuous
met - simple past
In my opinion, I prefer to use the latter sentence because I don't normally hear ...
