Pasado Continuo

FORMA

[was/were + presente Participio]

Ejemplos:

• You were studying when she called.
• Were you studying when she called?
• You were not studying when she called.

USO 1 Acciones interrumpidas en el Pasado

Usamos el Pasado Continuo para indicar que una acción larga ha sido interrumpida en el pasado. La interrupción es usualmente una acción en el pasado simple. Recuerda que puede ser una interupcion real o una interrupción en el tiempo

Ejemplos:

• I was watching TV when she called.
• When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
• While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
• What were you doing when the earthquake started?
• I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
• You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
• While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
• Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
• While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
• A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
  
  B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption USO 2 Un tiempo especifico como interrupción

En el Primer uso, describimos como el Pasado Continuo es unterrumpido por una acción mas corta en el pasado simple. De cualquier manera, puedes usar un tiempo especifico para la interrupción

Ejemplos:

• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
• At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
• Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANTE

En el Pasado Simple, un tiempo especifico es usado para mostrar cuando una acción inicia o temrina. En el Pasado Continuo, un tiempo especifico, solo interrumpe la acción

Ejemplos:

• Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
  
  Empece a comer a las 6PM
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
  
  Empece a comer antes; y a las 6PM, Estaba en el proceso de comer mi cena

USO 3 Acciones Paralelas

Cuando usamos el Pasado Continuo con dos acciones en la misma oración, esta expresa que ambas acciónes estaba pasando al mismo tiempo, estas acciónes don paralelas.

Ejemplos:

• I was studying while he was making dinner.
• While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
• Were you listening while he was talking?
• I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
• What were you doing while you were waiting?
• Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
• They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4 Atmosfera

En Inglés, seguido usamos una serie de acciones paralelas para describir la atmosfera de un tiempo particular en el pasado

Ejemplo:

• When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"USO 5 Repetición e Irritación con "always"

El pasado Continuo con palabras como "Always" o " Constantly" expresan que algo irritante o molesto paso seguido en el pasado. El concepto es muy similar a la expresión "Used to" pero con emoción negativa. Recuerda poner palabras como "Always" o "Constantly" entre "Be" y "Verb+ing"

Ejemplos:

• She was always coming to class late.
• He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
• I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

While vs. When

Las clausulas son grupos de palabras que tienen significado, pero por lo general no completan una oración. Algunas clausulas comienzan con la palabra "when" como "When she called" o "when it bit me". Otras clausulas comienzan con "while" al igual que "while she was sleeping" y "while she was surfing". Cuando hablas de cosas en el pasado, "when" es mas común que sea seguido por el tiempo en "Pasado simple", mientras que "while" es usualmente seguido del "Pasado Continuo". "While" expresa la idea de "durante ese tiempo". Estudiemos los ejemplos abajo. Ambas tienen significado similar, pero ellas enfatizan diferentes partes de la oración.

Ejemplos:

• I was studying when she called.
• While I was studying, she called.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs RECUERDA Verbos No Continuos / Verbos Mixtos"

Es importante recordar que los "Verbos No Continuos" no pueden ser usadas en ningún tiempo continuo. También, algunos significados de verbos no continuos para los Mixtos, no pueden ser usados en tiempos continuos. En lugar de usar Pasados Continuos con estos verbos, debemos usar el "Pasado Simple"

Ejemplos:

• Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
• Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct

POSICIONAMIENTO DE LOS ADVERBIOS

Los ejemplos siguientes nos muestran como debemos ubicar los adverbios gramaticalmente, tales como: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Ejemplos:

• You were just studying when she called.
• Were you just studying when she called?

ACTIVO /PASIVO

Ejemplos:

• The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Activo
• The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Pasivo

Ejercicio de Pasado Continuo y Pasado Simple