Past Continuous Tense – Real Life Examples & Common Mistakes | English Podcast

[00:00:00]Making [music] English easy for everyone.

[00:00:02]>> Speak English with Jay and May.

[00:00:05]>> Hey English learners. Welcome back to Speak English with Jay and May, your cozy little place to build your English confidence. I'm May.

[00:00:16]>> Hello May, and hello everyone. I'm Jay.

[00:00:20]How are you today, May?

[00:00:21]>> I'm doing great, Jay. Actually, I was just thinking about something funny that happened this morning.

[00:00:28]>> Ooh, tell me. I love your morning stories.

[00:00:32]>> So, I was making coffee, right? And while I was pouring the water, my phone rang. I almost dropped everything.

[00:00:42]>> [laughter] >> Classic. That's so real.

[00:00:45]>> And you know what's funny? That little story actually leads perfectly into today's topic.

[00:00:52]>> Really? What are we talking about today?

[00:00:55]>> Today, we're talking about the past continuous tense.

[00:00:59]>> Ooh, past continuous. I've heard people use it, but honestly, I always get a little confused with it.

[00:01:06]>> Don't worry. By the end of this episode, you're going to feel super confident with it. I promise.

[00:01:13]>> Okay, I trust you.

[00:01:15]But before we jump in, let's do our quick reminder for our listeners.

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[00:01:32]>> We upload a new episode every single day, so there's always something new for you to learn.

[00:01:39]>> All right, now let's get into it. May, what exactly is the past continuous tense?

[00:01:45]>> Okay, so simply put, past continuous is used when we talk about an action that was happening at a specific moment in the past.

[00:01:56]>> Hmm, was happening. You mean like the action was still going on?

[00:02:01]>> Exactly. Like my coffee story. I was pouring water means the action was in progress at that exact moment.

[00:02:10]>> Oh, I get it. So, it's not finished yet at that moment. It's like in the middle of happening.

[00:02:17]>> Yes, you got it already. See, it's not so scary.

[00:02:22]>> [laughter] >> Okay, okay. But, how do we actually build this tense? Like, what's the structure?

[00:02:28]>> Good question. The structure is really simple. Subject plus was or were plus verb plus ing.

[00:02:38]>> Was were were. How do I know which one to use?

[00:02:42]>> Easy trick. Use was with I, he, she, it and use were with you, we, they.

[00:02:52]>> So, like I was cooking or they were playing?

[00:02:57]>> Perfect examples. You're a natural at this already.

[00:03:01]>> Thanks, May. Okay, can you give me a few more examples so I can really get the feel of it?

[00:03:07]>> Sure. She was reading a book. We were watching a movie. He was driving to work.

[00:03:15]>> Ah, I notice something. All of them describe an action that was continuing, like going on for some time.

[00:03:23]>> Exactly. That's the whole heart of this tense. It shows an action in progress, not something that just happened quickly.

[00:03:31]>> Okay, that makes sense. But wait, here's something I always wonder. When do we actually use this tense in real life?

[00:03:39]>> Oh, that's the interesting part. Let me tell you. We use it in a few very common situations.

[00:03:45]>> Okay, I'm listening.

[00:03:47]>> First, we use it to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Like at 8:00 p.m. last night, I was watching TV.

[00:03:58]>> Oh, so it's connected to a specific moment.

[00:04:02]>> Exactly. And second, we use it when one action was happening and suddenly another action interrupted it.

[00:04:10]>> Wait, you mean like two actions together?

[00:04:13]>> Yes. For example, I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.

[00:04:18]>> Oh, so cooking was already happening and then boom, the phone rang and interrupted it.

[00:04:24]>> Exactly right. You see the pattern now?

[00:04:26]>> Yeah, it's like one action is the background and the second one just suddenly appears.

[00:04:32]>> That's such a good way to explain it, Jay. You really understand this well.

[00:04:37]>> Thank you. Okay, give me another example like that.

[00:04:40]>> Sure. She was sleeping when the earthquake happened.

[00:04:44]>> Whoa, that's intense, but I get the pattern. Sleeping was ongoing and then the earthquake interrupted.

[00:04:50]>> Exactly. And here's the fun part, the interrupting action usually uses past simple, not past continuous.

[00:04:59]>> Oh, really? So, the earthquake happened is past simple.

[00:05:03]>> Yes. Past continuous for the background action, past simple for the sudden action.

[00:05:10]>> Wow, this is getting clearer and clearer. Okay, what's another situation we use it for?

[00:05:15]>> Third situation, we use past continuous when two actions were happening at the same time in the past.

[00:05:25]>> You mean like both actions were ongoing together?

[00:05:29]>> Exactly. For example, while I was cooking, my sister was cleaning the house.

[00:05:35]>> Oh, so both actions happen at the same time, like two things running together.

[00:05:42]>> Yes. We usually use while to connect these two continuous actions.

[00:05:48]>> That's actually really useful. I hear while a lot in movies and shows.

[00:05:53]>> Right. It's very common in daily conversation, especially in storytelling.

[00:05:59]>> Actually, May, I have another question.

[00:06:01]Are there certain words that usually go together with past continuous, like signal words?

[00:06:08]>> Ooh, great question. Yes, there are a few words that often hint that past continuous is coming.

[00:06:16]>> Ooh, like what?

[00:06:18]>> Words like while, when, as, and phrases like at that time or at this moment yesterday.

[00:06:27]>> Oh, interesting. So, if I hear while in a sentence, I should expect past continuous.

[00:06:34]>> Most of the time, yes. For example, while I was walking home, I saw an old friend.

[00:06:40]>> Oh, and when usually introduces the interrupted action, right? Like, when the earthquake happened?

[00:06:48]>> Exactly. You're really connecting the dots now.

[00:06:52]>> This is so helpful. Okay, speaking of storytelling, do you have another fun personal story that uses this tense, May?

[00:07:00]>> Actually, yes. Let me tell you something that happened last weekend.

[00:07:05]>> Ooh, I'm ready.

[00:07:06]>> So, last Saturday, I was walking in the park, just enjoying the fresh air. And while I was walking, it suddenly started raining.

[00:07:17]>> Oh, no.

[00:07:19]What did you do?

[00:07:20]>> I didn't have an umbrella, so I just ran to the nearest coffee shop.

[00:07:26]>> Classic rainy day story. But wait, I noticed something. I was walking is past continuous, and it started raining is past simple, right?

[00:07:37]>> Yes, exactly. You're really catching on to the pattern now.

[00:07:42]>> Actually, that reminds me of something similar. Last month, I was driving to work and while I was driving, my car suddenly made a strange noise.

[00:07:52]>> Oh, no. What happened next?

[00:07:55]>> I quickly pulled over and it turned out my tire was flat.

[00:08:00]>> [laughter] >> Oh, that's such a stressful moment. But, guess what? You just used past continuous perfectly.

[00:08:08]>> Wait, really? Where?

[00:08:10]>> "I was driving to work" shows the background action and "my car made a strange noise" is the interrupting action.

[00:08:19]>> Oh, wow. I did it without even realizing.

[00:08:22]>> See? Once you understand the pattern, it just comes naturally in your own stories.

[00:08:28]>> This is so satisfying, honestly. Okay, can we imagine a scenario together? I think that'll help me even more.

[00:08:35]>> Sure, let's do it. Okay, everyone listening, imagine this scenario with us.

[00:08:41]>> Imagine you were at home last night, just relaxing on the sofa.

[00:08:45]>> You were watching your favorite show, feeling calm and comfortable.

[00:08:49]>> Suddenly, your phone rings. It's an unexpected call from an old friend.

[00:08:54]>> So, in English, how would we describe that moment?

[00:08:58]>> Um I was watching TV when my phone rang.

[00:09:02]>> Perfect. See? You already built a full past continuous sentence naturally.

[00:09:08]>> Yes, I actually did it myself.

[00:09:11]>> That's exactly how this tense works in real life. It's all about describing the background action and then something breaks in.

[00:09:19]>> This is honestly making so much sense now. But, May, what about negative sentences? How do we make past continuous negative?

[00:09:28]>> Good question. We just add not after was or were, like "I was not watching TV" or the short form, I wasn't watching TV.

[00:09:39]>> Oh, nice. So, it's like normal negative rules.

[00:09:43]>> Exactly. And for were, it becomes were not or weren't. Like, they weren't playing outside.

[00:09:51]>> Got it. And what about questions? How do we ask questions using this tense?

[00:09:56]>> For questions, we just move was or were to the front. Like, was she cooking dinner? Or were they watching the game?

[00:10:06]>> Oh, that's actually really simple. I thought it would be more complicated.

[00:10:10]>> [laughter] >> See, English grammar isn't always scary.

[00:10:14]Sometimes it's just about the pattern.

[00:10:16]>> True. And what about short answers? Like if someone asks, were you sleeping?

[00:10:21]>> Good one. We can answer short, like, yes, I was or no, I wasn't.

[00:10:27]>> Oh, that's easy to remember. Short and natural, just like real conversation.

[00:10:32]>> Exactly. You don't always need a full sentence in daily talk.

[00:10:37]>> Okay.

[00:10:38]One more thing I'm curious about. What are some common mistakes learners make with this tense?

[00:10:44]>> Oh, great question. Actually, one very common mistake is forgetting to use ing on the verb.

[00:10:52]>> You mean like saying, I was cook instead of I was cooking?

[00:10:57]>> Exactly. Many learners forget the ing part, especially in fast conversation.

[00:11:04]>> Oh, I think I've done that before, too.

[00:11:07]>> Don't worry, it's super common. Just remember, past continuous always needs that ing ending.

[00:11:15]>> Got it. Always add ing.

[00:11:18]What's another common mistake?

[00:11:20]>> Another one is mixing up was and were.

[00:11:24]Some learners use were with singular subjects by mistake.

[00:11:29]>> Oh, like saying, he were walking instead of he was walking.

[00:11:34]>> Exactly right. Remember, was goes with I, he, she, it, and were goes with you, we, they.

[00:11:44]>> Okay, I'll remember that rule clearly now.

[00:11:47]>> And one more common mistake. Some learners use past continuous for actions that are already completed without any interruption.

[00:11:56]>> Oh, you mean like they use it when they should actually use past simple.

[00:12:01]>> Exactly. For example, saying I was finishing my homework for a completed action is wrong. It should just be I finished my homework.

[00:12:12]>> Oh, I see the difference now. Past continuous is for actions in progress, not finished actions.

[00:12:20]>> Exactly. And one last small mistake.

[00:12:23]Some learners forget to use was or were at all and just say the ing verb.

[00:12:29]>> Oh, like saying I cooking dinner instead of I was cooking dinner.

[00:12:35]>> Yes, that's a mistake I hear a lot, especially from beginners. Always remember the helping verb was or were is necessary.

[00:12:45]Got it. Never skip the helping verb.

[00:12:48]You're really getting the hang of this now, Jay.

[00:12:50]>> Thank you, May. Honestly, this episode is clearing up so much confusion for me.

[00:12:55]>> I'm so happy to hear that. That's exactly our goal here on the podcast.

[00:13:00]>> Okay, before we wrap up, can you give me maybe two or three more natural examples so I can really practice?

[00:13:08]>> Of course. Let's do it together. Try to guess the pattern with me.

[00:13:14]>> Okay, I'm ready.

[00:13:16]>> At this time yesterday, I was traveling to my hometown.

[00:13:21]>> Oh, that shows a specific moment in the past, right?

[00:13:25]>> Exactly.

[00:13:26]Next one. While she was studying, her brother was playing video games.

[00:13:33]>> And that one shows two actions happening at the same time.

[00:13:37]>> Yes, you're doing amazing. Last one. I was sleeping when the alarm suddenly went off.

[00:13:46]>> And that shows one action interrupted by another.

[00:13:50]>> Perfect. You just summarized all three uses of past continuous by yourself.

[00:13:57]>> Wow, I actually feel really confident now.

[00:14:01]>> That's the whole point, Jay. Grammar isn't about memorizing rules, it's about feeling the pattern naturally. [music] >> I completely agree. This episode really helped me understand [music] something that used to confuse me a lot.

[00:14:16]>> I'm so glad, Jay. And to all our listeners, >> [music] >> remember, practice makes it natural. Try using past [music] continuous in your daily conversations today.

[00:14:28]>> Yes, maybe try describing what you were doing at a certain time yesterday >> [music] >> using this tense.

[00:14:34]>> That's such a great practice idea. All right, before we say goodbye, let's ask our listeners something.

[00:14:41]>> Yes, >> [music] >> we want to know what were you doing at this exact time yesterday?

[00:14:47]>> Write [music] your answer in the comments using past continuous. We would love to read your [music] sentences.

[00:14:54]>> If you enjoy learning with us, please remember to subscribe and share this episode with a friend who's learning English, too.

[00:15:02]>> We hope you enjoyed this session. See you tomorrow with another exciting episode. [music] >> Bye, everyone. Take care and keep speaking English with confidence.

[00:15:17]>> [music]