Past Continuous
FORM[Was/were + present participle]
Examples:
• Ann was studying when her father called.
• What was Ann doing when her father called her?
• Ann was not watching TV when her father called her.
Complete List of Past Continuous Forms
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter 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 lunch, it started to rain.
• What were you doing when the earthquake started?
• I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
• You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
• While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his bicycle.
• Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
• While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
• A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
• B: I was snowboarding.
USE 2 Specific Times as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples:
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
• At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
• Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
• Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I started eating at 6 PM.
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
USE 3 Parallel Actions
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.
• Were you listening while he was talking?
• I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
• What were you doing while you were waiting?
• Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
• They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
USE 4 Atmospheres
In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time 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 complainingto each other about the bad service.
USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
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.
While vs. When
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.
Examples:
• I was studying when she called.
• While I was studying, she called.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings forMixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.
Examples:
• Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
• Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You were just studying when she called.
• Were you just studying when she called?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• The store attendant was wrapping the clothes when the thief entered into the store. Active
• The clothes were being wrapped by the salesman when the thief entered into the store. Passive
Present Continuous
FORM[Am/is/are + present participle]
Examples:
• You are watching TV.
• Are you watching TV?
• You are not watching carnival.
USE 1 Now
Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
Examples:
• School principal is leaving the school.
• You are not swimming now.
• Are you sleeping?
• I am waiting for a cup of coffee.
• The school gardener is cutting the grass now.
• Is he sitting or standing?
• Ani is looking for good novel in the library.
• They are not borrowing book.
• What are you doing?
• Why aren't you doing the exercises?
USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now
In English "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.
Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)
• My older brother is studying to become a medical doctor
• My father is working the project for this year.
• I am not studying to become a dentist.
• I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
• The child is growing fast.
• She is doing her master degree.
• I am not reading any books right now.
• The government is building the new airport near here.
• Are you working on any special projects at work?
• Aren't you teaching at the university now?
USE 3 near Future
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.
Examples:
• I am meeting some friends after work.
• I am not going to the party tonight.
• Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
• Isn't he coming with us tonight?
USE 4 Repetitions and Irritation with "Always"
The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
• She is always coming to class late.
• He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
• I don't like them because they are always complaining.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.
Examples:
• She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
• She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You are still watching TV.
• Are you still watching TV?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
• Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive
Future Continuous
Basic form
Subject + WILL + BE + Verb (continuous form)
Quick examples
• Tomorrow at this time, I will be taking my English language exam.
• Ben won't be eating the dinner now. He usually eats it around noon!
• Will you be coming to the party tonight?
We mainly use the Future Continuous to indicate that we will be in the middle of doing something in a specified time in the future. There are also two other uses, listed below:
Use
1. Future actions in progress
2. Guesses about the present or the future
3. Polite questions about somebody's intention
Good to know
If you want to learn about somebody's intentions, you should always use the Future Continuous rather than the Present Simple. Using the Future Simple implies that you want to influence somebody's decision. Questions become much more objective if formed in the Future Continuous.
Compare:
• Will you come home? (= I want you to come home)
• Will you be coming home? (= I just want to know)
Use 1: Future actions in progress
The first use of the Future Continuous is to express future action in progress.
• My favorite movie will be started an hour later. So In an hour, I will be sitting in front of my TV.
• I have made promise with my mom to help this evening so in the evening, I will be baking a birthday cake.
Use 2: Guesses
Use this tense also to make guesses about something in the present or future.
• He won't be coming any time soon. He is still at the office.
• Beatrice will be getting married very soon.
Use 3: Questions
And the last use of the tense is to make polite questions about something or somebody.
• Will you be coming home before or after 10 PM?
• Will you be going to the supermarket? I have something to buy.
Form
Contracted forms
Important
The Future Perfect appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form which can be used interchangeably.
Example:
• "She will have finished" means "she is going to have finished"
Declarative Sentences
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
e.g. I/a dogetc. will be e.g. working/going/making
• She'll be having a bath when I back home. (Use 1)
• Tomorrow at nine, I will be hosing off (=washing with a hose) my car. (Use 1)
• This time next week, I am going to be throwing a party. (Use 1)
• I'll be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1)
• They will be getting home just about now. (Use 2)
Notice
Like any of the Future Tenses, Future Continuous cannot be used in sentences beginning with: while, when, before, by the time, if, etc.
• By the time, you will be finishing your painting.
[Tomorrow at this time, I will be getting bored at school! (Use 1)]
Questions
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing ?Will I/you/we etc. be dancing / taking
• Is she going to be cooking when we knock at the door? (Use 1)
• Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? (Use 1)
• Will you be using the screwdriver? (Use 3)
Negative Sentences
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + inge.g. I/a dogetc. will not be e.g.working/going/making
• We won't be having supper tomorrow before 8 o'clock. (Use 1)
• I am not going to be learning English tomorrow at this time. (Use 1)
• John won't be sleeping now (= I think John isn't sleeping now) (Use 2)
