Past continuous
Usamos el past continuous para acciones que estaban ocurriendo en un momento concreto del pasado o que estaban en progreso en ese momento. Suele aparecer con expresiones de tiempo como at 5 o'clock (a las cinco), at that moment (en ese momento) o when (cuando). En español normalmente corresponde al pretérito imperfecto (estaba leyendo, dormía, jugaban). Mira los ejemplos:
- I was sleeping at 10 o'clock. (Estaba durmiendo a las diez.)
- She was reading a book at 8. (Estaba leyendo un libro a las ocho.)
- They were dancing at 11. (Estaban bailando a las once.)
Como puedes ver, el past continuous se forma así:
→ Sujeto + was/were + verbo + -ing
Oraciones negativas
Estructura:
→ Sujeto + wasn't/weren't + verbo + -ing
- I wasn't sleeping at 10. (No estaba durmiendo a las diez.)
- You weren't waiting for him. (No le estabas esperando.)
- They weren't dancing. (No estaban bailando.)
Preguntas
Para formar una pregunta, ponemos was/were delante del sujeto:
→ Was/Were + sujeto + verbo + -ing?
- Was he playing football at 2? (¿Estaba jugando al fútbol a las dos?)
- Were they skiing at 5? (¿Estaban esquiando a las cinco?)
- What were you doing at 9? (¿Qué estabas haciendo a las nueve?)
- Why was she crying? (¿Por qué estaba llorando?)
Respuestas cortas
En las respuestas cortas usamos:
→ Sujeto + was/were (o wasn't/weren't)
No repetimos el verbo con -ing.
- Were you studying at 7? – Yes, I was.
- Was he working at 9? – Yes, he was.
- Were they cooking at 7? – No, they weren't.
Resumen rápido
-
Uso: acciones en progreso en un momento concreto del pasado
She was reading at 8. -
Forma: was/were + verbo-ing
They were playing. -
Negativa: wasn't/weren't + verbo-ing
He wasn't working. -
Pregunta: Was/Were + sujeto + verbo-ing?
Were you sleeping?
