Past Continuous
Cuándo se usa
El past continuous describe una acción que estaba en curso en un momento del pasado:
- La acción larga que otra más corta interrumpe: I was cooking when the phone rang.
- Dos acciones en paralelo: She was studying while her brother was watching television.
- El decorado de un relato: It was raining and the streets were empty.
- Un momento concreto del pasado: At nine o'clock we were still driving.
Cómo se forma
was / were + verbo en -ing: I / he / she / it was, you / we / they were. Las reglas de la -ing son las del present continuous (make → making, run → running, lie → lying).
En negativa se añade not al verbo be (wasn't working, weren't working) y en interrogativa be va delante del sujeto (Were you working?). El auxiliar did no aparece.
When o while
- when + past simple: la acción corta que interrumpe. When the alarm rang, I was sleeping.
- while + past continuous: la acción larga de fondo. While I was sleeping, the alarm rang.
Past simple o past continuous
- Acción terminada, un hecho cerrado: past simple. I read a book last night.
- Acción en curso, sin decir si terminó: past continuous. I was reading a book last night.
En un relato, el past continuous pone el fondo y el past simple cuenta lo que pasa: We were having dinner when someone knocked at the door.
Errores frecuentes
- Confundir was y were: They was waiting ❌ → They were waiting ✅.
- Meter el auxiliar did: Did you were working? ❌ → Were you working? ✅.
- Usar continuo con verbos de estado: I was knowing the answer ❌ → I knew the answer ✅.
- Poner las dos acciones en continuo cuando una interrumpe: I was cooking when the phone was ringing ❌ → ...when the phone rang ✅.
Estructura
| Forma | Cómo se construye |
|---|---|
| Afirmativa | Sujeto + was / were + verbo en -ing |
| Negativa | Sujeto + was / were + not + verbo en -ing |
| Interrogativa | Was / Were + sujeto + verbo en -ing + ? |
Marcadores temporales
Ejemplos
Afirmativa
I was cooking when the phone rang.
Estaba cocinando cuando sonó el teléfono.
They were waiting at the station all morning.
Estuvieron esperando en la estación toda la mañana.
While she was driving, it started to snow.
Mientras ella conducía, empezó a nevar.
This time yesterday we were flying to Lisbon.
Ayer a esta hora estábamos volando a Lisboa.
The wind was blowing as we walked along the beach.
El viento soplaba mientras caminábamos por la playa.
I was washing the dishes at eight yesterday.
Estaba lavando los platos ayer a las ocho.
The wind was blowing all night.
El viento soplaba toda la noche.
He was carrying a heavy box during the storm.
Él llevaba una caja pesada durante la tormenta.
Negativa
I was not sleeping when you called.
No estaba durmiendo cuando llamaste.
He was not listening during the meeting.
Él no estaba escuchando durante la reunión.
We were not living here last summer.
No estábamos viviendo aquí el verano pasado.
The children were not playing outside at that moment.
Los niños no estaban jugando fuera en ese momento.
The sun was not shining, but the birds were singing.
El sol no brillaba, pero los pájaros cantaban.
They were not listening during the lesson.
No estaban escuchando durante la clase.
We were having dinner at that moment.
Estábamos cenando en ese momento.
I was not sleeping well last night at ten.
No estaba durmiendo bien anoche a las diez.
Interrogativa
Were you working when the lights went out?
¿Estabas trabajando cuando se fue la luz?
Was it raining when you left the office?
¿Estaba lloviendo cuando saliste de la oficina?
Were they arguing about the money again?
¿Estaban discutiendo otra vez por el dinero?
What was she reading all night?
¿Qué estaba leyendo ella toda la noche?
What were you doing while I was setting the table?
¿Qué estabas haciendo mientras yo ponía la mesa?
Was she waiting outside when you arrived?
¿Estaba esperando fuera cuando llegaste?
Were you reading this time yesterday?
¿Estabas leyendo a estas horas ayer?
What were they doing while the rain fell?
¿Qué estaban haciendo mientras caía la lluvia?