Aprende a describir acciones que estaban en progreso en el pasado y eventos interrumpidos. Perfecto para contar historias y narrar experiencias pasadas con mayor detalle.
El Pasado Continuo (Past Continuous) se usa para describir acciones que estaban en progreso en un momento específico del pasado. Es perfecto para narrar historias y describir eventos interrumpidos.
I was watching TV at 8 PM yesterday.
(Yo estaba viendo la tele a las 8 de la noche ayer.)
She was studying when I called.
(Ella estaba estudiando cuando llamé.)
I was sleeping when the phone rang.
(Yo estaba durmiendo cuando sonó el teléfono.)
They were eating dinner when we arrived.
(Ellos estaban cenando cuando llegamos.)
I was reading while she was cooking.
(Yo estaba leyendo mientras ella cocinaba.)
We were talking and laughing.
(Nosotros estábamos hablando y riendo.)
- I was working at 5 PM.
- She was driving when it happened.
- They were playing soccer.
Se usa con "when" para eventos interrumpidos
y "while" para acciones simultáneas.
1. I was watching TV when the phone rang. (__________)
2. She was studying while I was cooking. (__________)
3. They were playing soccer at 3 PM. (__________)
4. We were eating when you arrived. (__________)
5. He was driving while she was sleeping. (__________)
El Pasado Continuo se forma con el auxiliar "was/were" + el verbo principal en forma "-ing". Es importante conocer cuándo usar "was" y cuándo usar "were".
| Sujeto | Was/Were | Verbo-ING | Ejemplo | Traducción |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | was | working | I was working | Yo estaba trabajando |
| You | were | working | You were working | Tú estabas trabajando |
| He/She/It | was | working | He was working | Él estaba trabajando |
| We | were | working | We were working | Nosotros estábamos trabajando |
| They | were | working | They were working | Ellos estaban trabajando |
Work → Working
Play → Playing
Live → Living
Study → Studying
Want → Wanting
Need → Needing
Call → Calling
Ask → Asking
Use → Using
Verbos que terminan en -e:
Make → Making
Write → Writing
Take → Taking
Verbos de una sílaba que terminan en consonante-vocal-consonante:
Run → Running
Sit → Sitting
Swim → Swimming
I was going to school.
(Yo iba a la escuela.)
She was seeing a movie.
(Ella veía una película.)
They were taking photos.
(Ellos tomaban fotos.)
We were making dinner.
(Nosotros preparábamos la cena.)
I was = I was
You were = You were
We were = We were
They were = They were
She was = She was
He was = He was
1. work → __________
2. play → __________
3. study → __________
4. take → __________
5. make → __________
Al igual que otros tiempos verbales, el Pasado Continuo también tiene formas negativas e interrogativas. La estructura cambia ligeramente para adaptarse a las diferentes formas.
I was not working yesterday.
(Yo no estaba trabajando ayer.)
You was not studying.
(Tú no estabas estudiando.)
We were not playing soccer.
(Nosotros no estábamos jugando fútbol.)
They were not eating.
(Ellos no estaban comiendo.)
Nota: "was not" = "wasn't", "were not" = "weren't"
Was I working hard?
(¿Yo estaba trabajando duro?)
Were you studying?
(¿Tú estabas estudiando?)
Was she cooking?
(¿Ella estaba cocinando?)
Were they playing?
(¿Ellos estaban jugando?)
Was she studying?
Yes, she was. / No, she wasn't.
(Sí, ella estaba. / No, ella no estaba.)
Were they playing?
Yes, they were. / No, they weren't.
(Sí, ellos estaban. / No, ellos no estaban.)
Was/Were + sujeto + verbo-ING + ...?
Was you working yesterday?
Wh- + was/were + sujeto + verbo-ING + ...?
What were you doing?
When + Pasado Simple, was/were + -ING
When I called, she was studying.
(Cuando llamé, ella estaba estudiando.)
While + was/were + -ING, Pasado Simple
While I was cooking, the phone rang.
(Mientras yo cocinaba, sonó el teléfono.)
Was/Were + sujeto + verbo-ING + ...?
Was you working yesterday?
Wh- + was/were + sujeto + verbo-ING + ...?
What were you doing?
En el Pasado Continuo, "was" se usa con I, he, she, it.
"Were" se usa con you, we, they.
1. I was working yesterday. → (Negativa)
2. She was studying. → (Negativa)
3. They were playing soccer. → (Pregunta)
4. He was cooking dinner. → (Pregunta)
5. We were eating at 8 PM. → (Negativa)