دکتر امیرعباس روائی – ونکوور
عضو رسمی‌مدرسان بین المللی TESOL Canada و CELPIP
کاربرد
در اغلب موارد از زمان گذشتهٔ استمراری برای نشان دادن کارهايی که در گذشته اتفاق افتاده و مدتی به‌طول انجامیده است، استفاده می‌شود، ولی کاملاً و به‌طور دقيق مشخص نیست که کار چقدر ادامه داشته است.
فعل‌های was و were فعل‌های کمکی این زمان هستند.
برای جملهٔ منفی زمان گذشتهٔ استمراری از wasn’t و weren’t استفاده می‌شود.
He was not (wasn’t) writing.
They were not (weren’t) doing their homework.
برای سؤالی کردن زمان گذشتهٔ استمراری نیز افعال was و were را در ابتدای جمله می‌گذاریم.
Was he writing?
Were they doing their homework?
توجه داشته باشید که زمان گذشتهٔ استمراری می‌تواند فقط برای بیان تأکید کاری طولانی در گذشته نیز به‌کار رود.
We were studying all night.
The children were crying loudly.
I was sitting on the edge of my seat during the movie.
He was still playing the guitar at 11:00 pm.
At 8:00 pm my brothers were doing their homework.
مثال‌های بیشتر:
Yesterday evening we were watching the game so we couldn’t come.
He was sleeping all night long.
Were you sleeping all night long?
I wasn’t resting, I was working!
Last night at nine o’clock John was washing the dishes.
Why was John washing the dishes?
Last week we were painting the house.
This morning at five o’clock Shannon was taking care of her baby.
Where was Shannon taking care of her baby?
I was studying when the phone rang.
They were eating when their friends showed up.
While the cat was sleeping the mice were eating its food.
We were having a very nice picnic when it started to rain.
My brother was always snoring.
They were always making fun of him.
You were always complaining.
This girl was constantly losing stuff.
He was always bragging.
