Past Continuous Tense in English and also With Urdu/Hindi examples
Back to: Tenses English Grammar with Examples and Guidance
Introduction to Past Continuous Tense:
Now it’s turn for for Past continuous tense. While i hope so that you have gone through all of those previous Lectures. which are about forms of verbs and Basic introduction about Tenses.
Well, Past continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that was happening in the past.
In Urdu/Hindi we say : Raha tha, Rahi thi, Rahay thay, etc etc.
In past continuous tense we add “ING” along with the first form of the verb and also two helping verbs are used which are Was and Were.
Examples:
I was studying when you called.
میں پڑھ رہا تھا جب آپ نے کال کی۔
Mein parh raha tha jab aap ne call ki.
They were playing cricket when it started raining.
وہ بارش شروع ہونے پر کرکٹ کھیل رہے تھے۔
Woh barish shuru hone par cricket khel rahe thay.
She was cooking dinner while her husband was watching TV.
وہ رات کا کھانا بنا رہی تھی جبکہ اُس کا شوہر ٹی وی دیکھ رہا تھا۔
Woh raat ka khana bana rahi thi jabkeh us ka shohar TV dekh raha tha.
The birds were chirping happily as the sun set.
سورج غروب ہوتے ہی پرندے خوشی سے چرچرا رہے تھے۔
Sooraj ghuroob hotay hein parindey khushi se chirchira rahe thay.
We were driving home when the car broke down.
ہم گھر جارہے تھے جب گاڑی خراب ہو گئی۔
Hum ghar ja rahe thay jab gari kharab ho gayi.
Rule # 1:
In this rule we will talk about helping verb “Was” . Well we use this helping verb with Singulars (He, She, It ,noun (name) and I ). Also we use – Ing but with the first form of the Verb.
Examples:
He was cooking dinner while she was setting the table.
اس نے رات کا کھانا پکا رہا تھا جبکہ وہ میز پر چیزیں لگا رہی تھی۔
Us ne raat ka khana pakka raha tha jabkeh woh mez par cheezein laga rahi thi.
Emily was reading a book while John was watching TV.
ایملی ایک کتاب پڑھ رہی تھی جبکہ جان ٹی وی دیکھ رہا تھا۔
Emily ek kitaab parh rahi thi jabkeh John TV dekh raha tha.
It was raining heavily while the dog was barking loudly.
بہت زیادہ بارش ہو رہی تھی جبکہ کتا بہت زور سے بھونک رہا تھا۔
Bohat zyada barish ho rahi thi jabkeh kutta bohat zor se bhoonk raha tha.
Sarah was talking on the phone while her cat was sleeping on the couch.
سارہ فون پر باتیں کر رہی تھی جبکہ اس کا بلی کانپچ پر سویا ہوا تھا۔
Sarah phone par baatein kar rahi thi jabkeh us ka billi couch par soya hua tha.
The teacher was writing on the board while the students were listening attentively.
استاد بورڈ پر لکھ رہے تھے جبکہ طلباء توجہ سے سن رہے تھے۔
Ustaad board par likh rahe thay jabkeh talaba tawajjuh se sun rahe thay.
Rule # 2:
In this rule we will talk about helping verb “Were” . Well we use this helping verb with Plurals (We you and They). Also we use – Ing but with the first form of the Verb.
Examples:
We were having dinner when the power went out.
ہم رات کا کھانا کھا رہے تھے جب بجلی گئی۔
Hum raat ka khana kha rahe thay jab bijli gayi.
They were playing football in the park while we were having a picnic.
وہ پارک میں فٹ بال کھیل رہے تھے جبکہ ہم پکنک کر رہے تھے۔
Woh park mein football khel rahe thay jab hum picnic kar rahe thay.
You were studying for your exams while I was cleaning the house.
تم اپنے امتحانات کے لئے پڑھ رہے تھے جبکہ میں گھر صفائی کر رہا تھا۔
Tum apne imtehanat ke liye parh rahe thay jab mein ghar safaai kar raha tha.
They were dancing at the party while we were chatting by the fireplace.
وہ پارٹی میں ناچ رہے تھے جبکہ ہم آتش دان کے قریب باتیں کر رہے تھے۔
Woh party mein nach rahe thay jab hum aatish dan ke qareeb baatein kar rahe thay.
Rule # 3 Negative sentences:
In this scenario we use Not after the helping verb (was or Were ) to form a sentence.
Examples:
I was not sleeping when you called.
We were not watching TV during the power outage.
You were not studying when I visited your house.
They were not playing outside when it started raining.
He was not working on the project while she was presenting it.
In above you can clearly see the the Negative (Not) is being used after helping verb.
Rule # 4 Interrogative Sentences:
Interrogative mean those sentences which contains some question or Question mark at the end of the sentences. In these type of sentences usually helping verb (was or were) is used in the beginning of the sentences.
Was I sleeping when you called?
Were we watching TV during the power outage?
Were you studying when I visited your house?
Were they playing outside when it started raining?
Was he working on the project while she was presenting it?
In above sentences you can see clearly the helping is in the beginning of the sentences.