The Past Tense vs. the Past Continuous Tense
Past tense: I went to work yesterday. (main
verb: go)
Past tense negative: I didn't
go to work
on Sunday. (main verb: go)
Past continuous tense: I was
eating my breakfast
when the phone rang. (main verb: eat)
Past continuous tense negative: I wasn't
eating anything when the phone rang. (main verb: eat)
The past continuous tense is often used to
show one or more past actions.
examples:
 |
What was the boy doing at the park?
He was making sand castles.
The boy was making sand castles while playing in the sand.
This boy made sand castles while he was
playing in the sand.
|
As you can see, the past tense is an alternative to the past continuous tense:
I was
drinking coffee while I was
working on my
computer.
sounds better than...
I drank my coffee when I worked on my computer
....because there's some activity. |
 |
You were taking English classes when you visited the United
States.
or
You took English classes when you visited the United
States.
(Both verb tenses are okay)
|
 |
He was talking on his cell phone while
he was walking to work.
or
While he was walking to work, he was
talking on his cell phone.
(Many sentences that use "while" are continuous)
Past tense:
He talked on the phone an hour ago. |
 |
She was talking on the phone while she was
drinking coffee.
or
She was talking on the phone while drinking coffee.
(Notice "she" is missing from the second sentence. That's
okay.) |
 |
It was snowing when this man went out to shovel his driveway.
|
 |
We were standing in my classroom when this picture was taken.
("was taken" is passive voice--not continuous.
Notice the difference?)
|
 |
| You were riding on the bus. |  |
| They were riding their bikes through downtown Minneapolis. |  |
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