Уровень A2

Прошедшее продолженное время — Past Continuous

Was или were плюс -ing — действие, которое шло в прошлом: I was reading, they were playing. С I, he, she, it — was; с you, we, they — were. Часто это середина действия, когда случается что-то ещё.

I was reading when you called.

Я читал, когда ты позвонил.

Смотрите: I was reading when you called. Я читал, и тут зазвонил телефон.

Формы

• I was reading. — сейчас am, в прошлом was
• They were playing. — you, we, they — were
• I was reading when you called. — середина действия, когда случается что-то ещё

Типичная ошибка

Неверно: I reading a book when you called.

Верно: I was reading a book when you called.

Многие говорят I reading a book when you called, но перед -ing нужно was или were. Говорим: I was reading a book when you called.

Ещё примеры

She was cooking dinner at six o'clock.

В шесть часов она готовила ужин.

В какой-то момент в прошлом действие шло: She was cooking dinner at six o'clock.

We were watching TV when the lights went out.

Мы смотрели телевизор, когда погас свет.

С we и they — were: We were watching TV when the lights went out.