Past Continuous
يتكون زمن الماضي المستمر من WAS / WERE ثم الفعل مضافا اليه ing
[WAS / WERE] + [VERB+ing]
:EXAMPLES
I was studying when she called
I was carefully picking up the snake when it bit me
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Continuous (was picking), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (was carefully picking)
الاستخدامات
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
يستخدم الماضي المستمر ببيان فعل تمت مقاطعته في الماضي. و المقاطعه غالبا ما تكون ماضي بسيط
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time
EXAMPLES
I was watching TV when she called
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter
While we were having a picnic, it started to rain
Sally was working when Joe had the car accident
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
تحديد وقت معين كمقاطعه لفعل حدث في الماضي
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by an action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption
EXAMPLES
Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
IMPORTANT
Last night at 6 p.m., I ate dinner.
بدأت الاكل السادسه
Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
عندما حانت الساعه السادسه كنت آكل بالفعل
USE 3 Parallel Actions
نستخدم الماضي المستمر عند وصف اكثر من فعل و هذه الافعال حدثت في نفس الوقت.
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
:EXAMPLES
I was studying while he was making dinner
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans and having a good time
USE 4 Atmosphere
يستخدم المضارع المستمر لوصف المناخ العام لمجموعه من الاحداث فب الماضي
In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere in the past
:EXAMPLE
When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad
.service
"USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always
يستخدم ايضا لوصف التكرار و الاثاره لاحداث غالبا ما كانت تحدث في الماضي
:EXAMPLES
She was always coming to class late
He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone
I didn't like them because they were always complaining
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Past Continuous
:EXAMPLES
The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. ACTIVE
The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. PASSIVE