PAST PROGRESSIVE

Indice della Grammatica

Forma Affermativa

 

Soggetto + Simple Past to be	Forma -ing del verbo	Esempi
I was	walking	I was walking in the park = Passeggiavo nel parco
you were	walking	You were walking in the park = Stavi passeggiando nel parco
he was	walking	He was walking in the park = Stava passeggiando nel parco
she was	walking	Sally was walking in the park = Sally stava passegginado nel parco
it was	walking	The dog was walking in the park = Il cane passeggiava nel parco
we were	walking	We were walking in the park = Passeggiavamo nel parco
you were	walking	You were walking in the park= Passeggiavate nel parco
they were	walking	They were walking in the park = Stavano passeggiando nel parco

Forma Negativa

La forma negativa del Present Perfect si ottiene aggiungendo not all'ausiliare was - were cui segue la forma -ing del verbo.
Nella tabella che segue viene mostrata anche la forma contratta di was - were + not

Soggetto + Ausiliare	Forma -ing	Esempi
I wasn't (I was not)	walking	I wasn't walking in the park = Non passeggiavo nel parco
you weren't (you were not)	walking	You weren't walking in the park = Non stavo passeggiando nel parco
he wasn't (he was not)	walking	He wasn't walking in the park = Non passeggiava nel parco
she wasn't (she was not)	walking	Sally wasn't walking in the park = Sally non stava passeggiando nel parco
it wasn't (it was not)	walking	The dog wasn't walking in the park = Il cane non passeggiava nel parco
we weren't (we were not)	walking	We weren't walking in the park  = Non passeggiavamo nel parco
you weren't (you were not)	walking	You weren't walking in the park = Non stavate passeggiando nel parco
they weren't (they were not)	walking	They weren't walking in the park  = Non passeggiavano nel parco

Risposte Brevi (Short Answers)

Le Short Answers sono brevi risposte date a domande che prevedono come risposta in genere un SI' o un NO e sono preferite alle risposte secche (Yes!/No!).
 
Si formano utilizzando, dopo Yes o No, il soggetto sempre in forma di pronome personale seguito da were - was o weren't - wasn't. Nelle risposte brevi negative si usano solo le forme contratte weren't - wasn't.
 
Eccone degli esempi:

Yes/No Questions	Short Answer
Were you watching the film? = Stavate vedendo il film?	Yes, we were No, we weren't
Was Steve playing in the garden? = Steve stava giocando in giardino?	Yes, he was No, he wasn't

Uso del PAST PROGRESSIVE

1. Il Past Progressive si usa di solito quando un'azione è iniziata prima di un'altra e finita dopo, ad esempio:
I was reading the newspaper when Mike suddenly arrived. = Stavo leggendo il giornale quando improvvisamente è arrivato Mike.
In altre parole, ho cominciato a leggere (forse alle 7), poi lui è arrivato (forse alle 8), poi ho finito di leggere (forse alle 9), ecco uno schema:

7.00	8.00 = Mike arrived	9.00
I was reading	I was reading	I was reading

2. Il Past Progressive si usa quando parliamo di un'azione che era già iniziata e stava ancora continuando in un'ora particolare, ad esempio:
At 5 o'clock, it was raining. = Alle 5 pioveva.
In altre parole, cominciò a piovere (forse alle 4) ed è finito di piovere più tardi (forse alle 6), ecco uno schema:

4.00	5.00 = ora specifica	6.00
it was raining	it was raining	it was raining

3. Il Past Progressive si usa per descrivere due azioni che continuano entrambe nello stesso momento nel passato. In questo caso usiamo il Past Progressive per tutte due:
While I was sleeping, she was working. = Mentre dormivo, lei stava lavorando.
In altre parole, io ho cominciato a dormire e lei a lavorare (forse alle 10.00), ed entrambi abbiamo finito le azioni più tardi (forse alle 12.00), ecco uno schema:

10.00	11.00	12.00
I was sleeping she was working	I was sleeping she was working	I was sleeping she was working