Cuando una acción estaba pasando en un momento del pasado, usa was o were + un verbo con -ing. Usa was con I, he, she e it. Usa were con you, we y they.
was / were + -ing (pasado continuo)
At seven o'clock, I was eating dinner.
They were sitting in the garden.
Not "They was sitting in the garden." — say "They were sitting in the garden.". Con they, usa were.
Pruébalo: Ira: Who was in the school gym at eight? Amina: Some students. They ___ basketball. Elige lo que dice Amina. (were reading / were playing / was swim) Respuesta: were playing — A las ocho estaban jugando básquetbol, y con they se usa were: were playing.
Negativas y preguntas
Para decir que no, usa wasn't o weren't + -ing. Para preguntar, pon Was o Were primero: Were you sleeping?
I wasn't listening.
Were you sleeping?
Not "Did you sleeping?" — say "Were you sleeping?". Pregunta con Was o Were, no con did.
Pruébalo: Ira: Did you see the new painting in the hall? Amina: No, I ___. I was talking to the teacher. Elige lo que dice Amina. (wasn't looking / wasn't talking / didn't watching) Respuesta: wasn't looking — Amina estaba hablando, así que no tenía los ojos en la pintura: wasn't looking.
break → broke, fall → fell, hurt → hurt. drop y spill solo agregan -ed: dropped (con doble p), spilled.
He fell in the park.
The window broke.
She spilled the soup.
Not "He falled in the park." — say "He fell in the park.". fall tiene su propio pasado: fell.
Pruébalo: Ira: Where's your blue cup? Amina: I dropped it, and it ___. Elige lo que dice Amina. (hurt / falled / broke) Respuesta: broke — La taza ya no está después de caer al piso, así que se rompió: broke. El pasado de break es broke.
La acción larga y la corta
Usa was / were + -ing para la acción larga. Usa la forma de pasado para la acción corta que pasa en medio de ella.
She was running when she fell.
Pruébalo: Ira: Is the art room clean now? Amina: No. I ___ it when you came in, so I stopped. Elige lo que dice Amina. (was cleaning / cleaned / was cooking) Respuesta: was cleaning — Amina dejó de limpiar a la mitad cuando entró Ira, así que es was cleaning.
while + larga, when + corta
Pon while antes de la acción larga: while I was waiting. Pon when antes de la acción corta: when I saw him.
While I was waiting for the bus, I saw an old friend.
I was waiting for the bus when I saw an old friend.
Pruébalo: Ira: Where did you lose your umbrella? Amina: I lost it ___ I was walking home. Elige lo que dice Amina. (then / while / finally) Respuesta: while — Caminar a casa es la acción larga, y while va antes de la acción larga.
En orden: first, then, after that, finally
Para contar lo que pasó en orden, usa first, then, after that, y finally para lo último.
First we bought tickets. Then we found our seats. After that, we saw a movie. Finally, we had pizza.
Pruébalo: Ira: How was your Saturday? Amina: Busy! I went to class, then I studied, and after that I cooked. ___, I went to bed. Elige lo que dice Amina. (Finally / First / While) Respuesta: Finally — Irse a dormir fue lo último, así que es Finally.