.


:




:

































 

 

 

 


()




The Past Continuous is used to denote:

, :

 

a. With dynamic verbs (as a general rule):

a. ( ):

 

A continuous temporary action going on at the given moment in the past.

Time expressions commonly found in this case are: then, at that moment, but mostly the time factor is manifested through the context.

, . , , : , ; .

 

e.g. Mary came in. She was eating an apple. I was walking home then.

 

A continuous temporary action in progress at a given period of time in the past. , .

e.g. What were you doing in Paris? I was trying to find a publisher for my new book.

He was working at a factory. I was catching up with my studies.

A period of time in the past may be indicated by the following adverbial modifiers of time: all day / night, all that year, the whole morning / evening, all through that winter / etc., all the morning / evening, from 5 till 6 yesterday.

: / , , () / () , / .., / , 5 6 .

e.g. I was writing all day long.

N.B. There is a synonymous phrase to spend (some time) doing smth. used to denote actions in progress during a whole period in the past.

N.B. (-. ) -.

e.g. I spent all the morning reading. He spent the summer helping his uncle on the farm.

 

one's annoyance with smb's habitual actions in the past. This usage has a strong emotive charge and helps to express the speaker's emotions of irritation, disapproval, impatience etc.

The adverbial modifier always or, rarer, constantly are indispensable in this case.

-. . , , .. .

always , , constantly ( ) .

e.g. She was always asking for help! They were constantly complaining about anything!

 

An action which is expected to take place in the near future from the point of view of the past due to smb's intention.

Verbs commonly found in this case include: go, come, start, leave, return, arrive, etc.

, , , -. .

, : , , , , , , ...

e.g. She said she was leaving in a week. We knew he was returning that Monday. They wondered if he was dining out that night?

 

A future action from the point of view of the past in adverbial clauses of time.

.

e.g. She said she would stay in the car while I was talking to the inspector.

 

a. With stative verbs (by way of exception from the general rule, very rarely):

A great intensity of feeling in the past.

a. ( , ):

.

e.g. She was wanting to do something about it as soon as she could.

 

N.B.(1) Past Continuous forms are often made use of when it is necessary to express an action of some duration serving as a background for a short point action expressed by the Past Simple form.

N.B.(1) , , , .

e.g. As I was speaking over the phone, I heard the door-bell.

 





:


: 2016-11-02; !; : 303 |


:

:

.
==> ...

1540 - | 1377 -


© 2015-2024 lektsii.org - -

: 0.009 .