Átomo 36

Pasado continuó: was/were + verb-ing

La regla

was/were + verbo-ing: acción en progreso en el pasado.

"was/were + verb-ing: action in progress in the past."

El pasado continuó describe acciones en progreso en un momento del pasado o el contexto de fondo de una historia. Se forma con was/were + verbo-ing. Se combina muy a menudo con past simple para una acción que interrumpe a otra: "I was working when she called" (yo estaba trabajando = continuó, ella llamo = simple, acción puntual que interrumpe). También se usa para describir varias acciones simultaneas en el pasado.

Ejemplos

I was working when she called.

Estaba trabajando cuando llamo.

We were having a meeting at 3pm.

Teniamos una reunion a las 3.

She was studying English last night.

Anoche estaba estudiando inglés.

They were not answering Slack.

No estaban contestando en Slack.

Were you sleeping at midnight?

Estabas durmiendo a medianoche?

I was writing the email while he was reviewing the PR.

Yo escribia el email mientras el revisaba el PR.

It was raining when I left the office.

Llovia cuando sali de la oficina.

Casos típicos

Acción en progreso en momento del pasadowas/were + verb-ing + at [time]

I was working at 3pm.She was sleeping at midnight.

Acción interrumpida (continuous + simple)was/were + ing + when + past simple

I was working when she called.We were eating when the alarm rang.

Acciones simultaneaswhile + continuous + continuous

I was writing while he was reviewing.They were talking while we were coding.

Contexto de fondo en una historiawas/were + verb-ing

The sun was shining and birds were singing.

Trampas hispanohablantes

I working when she called.I was working when she called.

Falta was/were antes del verbo-ing.

We was having a meeting.We were having a meeting.

we/you/they -> were, no was.

I was work when she called.I was working when she called.

Falta -ing en el verbo.

While I worked, he called.While I was working, he called.

Con while se prefiere continuous para la acción de fondo.

Mini-quiz

1/6.Completa (work):

I when she called. (continuous)

2/6.Elige el auxiliar correcto:

We having a meeting at 3pm.

3/6.Cual es correcta?

4/6.Completa (rain):

It when I left the office.

5/6.Acción interrumpida: elige el tiempo del verbo "call":

I was working when she me.

6/6.Cual es correcta?