Past continuous
El past continuous describe una acción en curso en un momento del pasado, a menudo como fondo de otra más corta. Forma: was / were + verbo-ing (estaba + gerundio).
| fondo (past continuous) | suceso (past simple) |
|---|---|
| I was cooking | when the phone rang. |
| While we were walking, | it started to rain. |
Usos
- Un momento del pasado: At 8 pm I was watching TV.
- Acción interrumpida: when + past simple, while + past continuous.
- Dos acciones simultáneas: She was reading while he was cooking.
Ejemplos
- What were you doing at 10 o’clock?¿Qué estabas haciendo a las diez?
- I was sleeping when you called.Estaba durmiendo cuando llamaste.
- The sun was shining and children were playing.Brillaba el sol y los niños jugaban.
- She cut her finger while she was cooking.Se cortó el dedo mientras cocinaba.
- He was driving too fast when the police stopped him.Conducía demasiado rápido cuando la policía lo paró.
Errores comunes
- ✗ When I was a child, I was playing football every day.✓ When I was a child, I played football every day.El imperfecto español jugaba no se traduce siempre con el past continuous; para hábitos pasados se usa el past simple.
- ✗ When she arrived, we had dinner. (we were in the middle of dinner)✓ When she arrived, we were having dinner.Una acción que estaba en curso cuando llegó otra necesita el past continuous, y no el past simple.
- ✗ I was watch TV.✓ I was watching TV.Tras was o were el verbo necesita la terminación -ing.
- ✗ He was watching TV when I come.✓ He was watching TV when I came.La acción corta que interrumpe va en past simple: when I came.
- ✗ What you were doing at ten?✓ What were you doing at ten?En una pregunta el auxiliar was o were va antes del sujeto, y no se deja el orden de la afirmación.