noteswale
Noteclass 9 10

Past continuous vs past simple

Lesson 38 of 84

B1

Past continuous = was doing (us waqt ho raha tha). Simple past = did (khatam event). was / were = 09. Simple past form = 10 / 22. -ing = 08. Habit past = 48. have been doing = 39.

1. Kya hai

I was cooking rice when the lights went out.

Lamba background = past continuous. Chhota event jo beech me aaya = simple past.

Past continuous Simple past
Form was / were + -ing V2 (2nd form: cooked) / -ed   didn't + base
Picture video — beech me photo — khatam event / ek ke baad ek
Example At 8 pm I was watching the match. I watched a film last night. I cooked, then I ate.

2. was / were + -ing

I / he / she / it you / we / they
Positive I was cooking. They were playing.
Negative I wasn't sleeping. They weren't waiting.
Question Was she studying? Were you waiting?
Short Yes, I was. / No, she wasn't. Yes, we were. / No, they weren't.

Short: Yes, I was. — not Yes, I were / Yes, I was cooking as the short form. -ing spelling = 08 (sitting, making, studying).

Stative (haal wale verbs: know / want / like): I knew. I wanted. I liked. — not I was knowing (08 / 29).

3. when / while + choice

Rule Yes No
when + short past I was cooking when he called. I cooked when he was calling. (ulta picture — yahan nahi)
while + long action He called while I was cooking. He was calling while I cooked. (usually)
dono background While she was cooking, he was setting the table. —
ek ke baad ek (then) I cooked rice, then I ate it. I was cooking rice, then I was eating it. (steps nahi)
habit last year I played cricket every Sunday. I was playing cricket every Sunday. (48 = used to)

Clock + beech me: At 8 pm yesterday we were watching the match.

Train pehle nikal chuki = had left (36), is tense me nahi. I was going to call (plan) alag — 23 ka past, dono ek saath mat lagao.

4. Examples

Bold = past continuous ya beech wala simple past.

  1. I was cooking rice when the lights went out.
  2. She was doing homework when her phone rang.
  3. He called while I was having chai.
  4. We were watching the match at 8 pm yesterday.
  5. They were playing cricket when it started raining.
  6. I was going to the market when I saw Ravi.
  7. While Ananya was cooking, Ravi was setting the table.
  8. What were you doing at 6 pm yesterday?
  9. I wasn't sleeping. I was studying.
  10. Were you waiting for the bus? Yes, I was.
  11. I cooked rice, then I ate it.
  12. I watched a film last night.
  13. The train left while we were buying tickets.
  14. I played cricket every Sunday last year.
  15. I knew the answer. (not was knowing)

5. Common mistakes

Yesterday I am cooking rice.
Yesterday I was cooking rice. / I cooked rice yesterday.
I was cook rice. / I was cooked rice.
I was cooking rice.
When he came I cooking. / I was go.
When he came I was cooking. / I was going. / I went.
I was playing cricket every Sunday last year.
I played cricket every Sunday last year. (habit → 48)
I was knowing the answer. / I was wanting tea.
I knew the answer. / I wanted tea.
I didn't cooking. / I wasn't cook.
I didn't cook. / I wasn't cooking.
The phone was rang. / What did you doing at 6?
The phone rang. / What were you doing at 6?
I was cooking rice, then I was eating it. (steps)
I cooked rice, then I ate it.
Hindi note. Hindi "paka raha tha / pakaya". English do tenses: beech me video = was / were + -ing. Khatam event ya "phir" = simple past. when ke baad chhota event aksar past: when the phone rang. Roz ka past habit = simple past, continuous nahi (48).

6. Practice

A. 10 MCQ

1. I ______ rice when he called.
2. I ______ rice, then I ate it.
3. At 8 pm yesterday we ______ the match.
4. She ______ homework when the phone rang.
5. He arrived while I ______ chai.
6. What ______ you doing at 6 pm yesterday?
7. I ______ sleeping. I was studying.
8. They ______ cricket every Sunday last year. (habit)
9. When the lights went out, I ______.
10. Were you waiting? — Yes, I ______.

B. 5 fill-in

1. At 8 pm yesterday: She ______ watching TV. (be)

2. I was cooking when he ______. (call)

3. Ek ke baad ek: I ______ rice, then I ate it. (cook)

4. They ______ playing cricket when it started raining. (be)

5. Sahi karo: Yesterday I am cooking rice.

C. 3 sentences

Model answers neeche.

  1. background + when: I was cooking when he called.
  2. ek ke baad ek: I cooked rice, then I ate it.
  3. at + clock / while: At 8 pm we were watching the match.

7. Answer key

MCQ
  1. b) was cooking — background when he called. cooked = sequence. am = now (08).
  2. b) cooked — then = steps. was cooking = video, phir-step kam clear. have cooked = 37.
  3. b) were watching — at 8 pm beech me. watch = present. have watched = 37.
  4. b) was doing — when the phone rang = beech wala event. did = khatam event. is = now.
  5. b) was having — while + action have (lunch/chai). had = possession/finished. have = present.
  6. b) were — Were you doing? did + doing galat. are = now.
  7. a) wasn't — I + wasn't + -ing. didn't needs cook. weren't = you/we/they.
  8. b) played — every Sunday habit. were playing = one scene. are = now. used to = 48.
  9. b) was cooking — lights went out = beech wala event. cook = present. have cooked = 37.
  10. b) was — I + was. were = you/we/they. waiting akela short nahi.
Fill-in
  1. was — she + was + -ing, yesterday 8 pm.
  2. called — when + short past.
  3. cooked — then = simple past.
  4. were — they + were + -ing.
  5. Yesterday I was cooking rice. (ya I cooked rice yesterday. — event)
Model sentences
  1. I was cooking when he called.
  2. I cooked rice, then I ate it.
  3. At 8 pm we were watching the match.

Check: was/were + -ing; when + chhota past event; while + continuous; then = simple past; habit = simple past, not past continuous; Yes, I was; haal wale (know/want) -ing nahi; used to = 48; been doing = 39; had left = 36.