Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Tense

1.      Formula

( + ) S + to be (was/were) + verb–ing + O/C

( – ) S + to be (was/were) + not + verb–ing + O/C

( ? ) To be (was/were) + S + verb–ing + O/C + ?

Example

( + ) She was working all night yesterday.

( – ) She was not working all night yesterday.

( ? ) Was she working all night yesterday?

2.      Fungsi

            a.      Untuk menyatakan suatu peristiwa yang sedang terjadi pada masa
            lampau.

            I was studying at my friend’s house.

            My parents were watching a movie in the living room.

            b.      Untuk menggambarkan suatu peristiwa yang sedang berlangsung pada
            waktu lampau, dimana peristiwa lain juga terjadi.

            He was sleeping when I came to his house

            I was watching television when you phoned me.

3.      Catatan

Kita terkadang menggunakan Past Continuous Tense dan Simple Past Tense dalam satu kalimat untuk menyatakan sesuatu yang terjadi di tengah-tengah peristiwa yang lain.

            a.       Past Continuous Tense + when + Simple Past Tense

            She was reading a novel when her mother cooked rice.

             Past Continuous Tense                Simple Past Tense

            b.      Simple Past Tense + while + Past Continuous Tense

            My friends came to my house while I was studying English.

         Simple Past Tense                 Past Continuous Tense