The Past Continuous Tense: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 9

Hello and welcome to the Grammar Gameshow!

I’m your host, Will!

– but I’ll change for person and time!

And of course, let’s not forget Leslie,

our all-knowing voice in the sky.

Welcome, everyone!

Tonight we’re going to be asking three questions about…

The past continuous tense!

OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!

Hi everyone. I’m Helen!

Contestant number 2?

Hi, everyone. I’m Greg!

Welcome back Helen!

Ok. Let’s get going, and don’t forget

you can play along at home too.

Our first round is a battle round.

Contestants ask each other questions

about the past continuous

until one of them makes a mistake.

Helen, do you want to start?

Yes, please!

That’s a shame!

Greg, you can go first…

Oh! Right!

What is the formula for the past continuous?

‘Was’ or ‘were’ + ‘verbING’.

What do we use the past continuous for?

Actions which are in progress at a past time.

Give me an example.

I was eating dinner at 6pm last night.

Do we use the past continuous with state verbs?

No, not usually.

Do we usually use the past continuous

with repeated actions?

Yes!

Oh! That was vicious!

Well played, but Helen, you made a mistake there.

Leslie?

Mostly right!

The past continuous is used to describe

actions that were in progress

at a past time.

It is constructed with ‘was’ or ‘were’ and ‘verbING’ - and,

being continuous,

it does not usually use state verbs.

However, it does not usually describe

repeated actions or habits either.

Sorry Helen, that’s the past simple.

Sorry Helen. 20 points to Greg.

Let’s move on to our next round.

Which of these sentences is incorrect and why?

I was walking when I tripped and fell.

I was walking while I tripped and fell.

When I was walking, I tripped and fell.

While I was walking, I tripped and fell.

Trick question! They are all correct.

No, no. B is wrong

We don’t use ‘while’ for quick actions.

Wow. You two are really getting into it!

Leslie?

We often use the past continuous

and past simple together

to describe a longer action

that is interrupted by a short one.

These actions are connected with time words like

‘when’ and ‘while’.

However, we do not usually use ‘while’ in front of the

short action.

So, well done Helen.

Well done Helen. 20 points for you!

This is exciting. It’s neck and neck!

It’s time for our final question.

True or false:

The past continuous can make you sound more polite.

True!

It is true!

Can you explain how?

No?

Greg?

Using the past continuous makes things more polite

because it seems temporary and so more casual.

Leslie?

Yep.

Using the past continuous can make sentences seem

more polite by distancing them from the present

This makes them sound more

tentative and less assertive.

More gentle.

For example

‘I was hoping you could lend me money’

is more polite than

‘I hope you can lend me money’.

Well, this is tricky.

Helen, you said it was true,

and Greg, you explained it.

Who do I give the points to?

You should give it to me!

No, I was the one who answered the question!

No you didn’t. I got it right.

You should give it to me!

Oh rubbish!

I know!

Wasn’t that easier?

And that brings us to the end of today’s

Grammar Gameshow.

And the winner is…

me!

Well done!

Thank you!

What have I won?

Cash in mixed currency!

It looks like we’ll need...

two more contestants.

Thanks for joining us.

Say goodbye Leslie

Goodbye Leslie

See you next time.