"ABOUT THE PAST CONTINUOUS TANSE"

A.    Understanding the Past Continuous Tense

Past continuous tense is also known as progressive past tense. This tense is used to describe a job or activity that is going on in the past. Is said to be continuous or progressive because the work is being done. And said past because it happened in the past. In use, this tense usually accompanied by a sentence in the form of continuous past as well or it could be in the form of simple past tense. Later you will easily understand after reading function and an example sentence below. so make sure that you read this article once.

A.    Formula Past Continuous Tense.

The formulation of this tense is composed of two elements, namely past and continuous. 

The characteristics of the past he always uses Verb-2 while continuous always used to 

be + verb-ing. If merged then the second form (verb-2) than to be is was and were thus

 the basic formula of the past continuous is: S + was / were + Verb-ing.

Bentuk	RUMUS		CONTOH
+	Verbal	S + was/were + Verb-ing	She was reading a book when I come
	Nominal	S + was/were + nominal	When I was child, I was so handsome
–	Verbal	S + was/were + not + Verb-ing	I was not sleeping at seven o’clock yesterday
	Nominal	S + was/were + not + nominal	Meeting president was not in my schedule
?	Verbal	Was/were + S + Verb-ing	Were you hiking with your friends last week?
	Nominal	Was/were + S + Verb-ing	Were you alone now?

c. Function Past Continuous Tense

Shows the work was going on in the past. Example: I am sorry Jane, yesterday I could not help you Because I was washing my car. (Sorry Jane, I can not help yesterday, because I again nyuci my car). She was crying in my shoulder so I could not go any where. (She cried on my shoulder so I could not go anywhere) Shows two activities that are going on together in the past.

Example:

·         The fire was burning my house when my mother was cooking last night.
(Ayahku sedang mandi ketika mamaku sedang masak kemarin malam)

·         John was operating his computer when I was watching a movie.
(John sedang mengoperasikan komputer ketika aku sedang nonton film)

               Serves to demonstrate the activity is going on in the past when other events interrupt.

Example:

·         My father was taking a bath when I knocked the door
(Ayaku sedang mandi ketika aku mengetuk pintu)

·         She always interrupted me when I was delivering my speech.
(Dia selalu menyela ketika aku sedang berpidato)

D. The use Description Time 

Description of time spent together with the past tense, which contains last + time or time + ago. In function of the number 2 and 3, there is always a word while or when that means when / when. We may use one of them and may be exchanged, just that it would be appropriate if the activities are carried out simultaneously using a while, and if one uses when interrupting their activities.

E. Example Sentences Past Continuous.

1.      I was there when you was delivering your speech on the stage.
(Aku ada di sana ketika kamu sedang menyampaikan sambutan di atas panggung).

2.      Julie was cooking in the kitchen while I was watching a television yesterday morning.
(Julie sedang memasak di dapur ketika aku sedang menonton tv kemarin pagi).

3.      Was Thidarat climbing the peak of Rinjani mountain when I was sleeping in my tend last week?.
(apakah Thidarat sedang mendaki puncak gunung Rinjani ketika aku sedang tidur di dalam tenda?).

4.      The rain was pouring heavy when I arrived at home this morning.
(Hujan sedang turun dengan derasnya ketika aku sampai di rumah pagi ini).

5.      I am sorry I didn’t know that you knocked at my door yesterday because I was listening to the music.
(Maaf, saya tidak mendengar kamu mengetuk pintu kemarin karena aku sedang mendengarkan musik).

6.      She was reading a book while the library was closed.
(Dia sedang membaca buku ketika perpustakaan ditutup).

7.      That building was being built last year when I passed last year, but now it’s already broken down.
(Bangunan itu sedang dibangun waktu aku lewat tahun lalu tapi sekarang sudah dirobohkan).

8.      Are you the one who called when I was walking around with my girl friend in the mall yesterday?
(apakah kamu orangnya yang manggil saya waktu saya lagi jalan sama pacar saya di mall kemarin?).

9.      Were you dancing with my girl friend when I went to toilet?
(apakah kamu sedang berdansa dengan pacarku ketika aku pergi ke toilet).

10.  The music was playing when I left that bar last night.
(musik itu masih bermain ketika aku meninggalkan bar kemarin malam).