Past Continuous

O Tempo Verbal Past Continuous (Passado Contínuo)

O Past Continuous é um tempo verbal usado para mostrar que uma ação estava acontecendo em determinado momento do passado.

Lembra do Simple Past? Pois então, qual era o uso mesmo? Pode ir lá verificar e depois volta aqui. Já foi? Ok. 

O Simple Past, que vimos em outra lição, usamos para falar sobre coisas que já acabaram em um tempo passado. Já o Past Continuous é usado para uma coisa que estava acontecendo em um tempo passado. 

I was eating. Eu estava comendo. 

Estrutura do Past Continuous

A estrutura do Past Continuous é:

sujeito + was/were + verbo com -ing

Sujeito	Verbo "to be"	Exemplo com "study"
I / He / She / It	was	She was studying.
You / We / They	were	We were studying.

Usos Comuns do Past Continuous

Vamos observar os usos mais comuns do Past Continuous. 

Uso 1: Ação em progresso no passado (em um momento específico)

Mostra que algo estava acontecendo em um momento exato do passado.

• I was watching TV at 8 p.m.

• They were studying at that time.

Uso 2: Duas ações acontecendo ao mesmo tempo no passado

Duas ações em andamento simultaneamente.

• I was cooking while she was cleaning.

• They were playing football and listening to music.

Uso 3: Ação interrompida por outra ação (com Simple Past)

Uma ação estava acontecendo quando outra a interrompeu.

• I was sleeping when the phone rang.

• She was walking home when it started to rain.

Uso 4: Criar ambiente em histórias (background de ações)

Descreve o que estava acontecendo ao redor quando algo principal aconteceu.

• It was raining, and people were running in the streets.

• The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.

Uso 5: Mostrar irritação com ações repetidas no passado (com always)

Usado para reclamar de ações que aconteciam o tempo todo.

• He was always talking during class.

• They were always arriving late.

Palavras comuns com o Past Continuous

while, when, at that moment, all day, always (para reclamação)

Pronto para alguns exercícios mais básicos?

A) Complete com was ou were:

1. She _______ reading a book.

2. They _______ listening to music.

3. I _______ watching TV.

B) Complete com o verbo no Past Continuous:

1. I _______ (cook) dinner when the lights went out.

2. They _______ (play) soccer while we _______ (study).

3. He _______ (walk) to school when it started to rain.

C) Responda: O que você estava fazendo...?

1. What were you doing at 7 p.m. yesterday?

2. Were you studying at 10 a.m. today?

Ok, agora vamos para a parte mais importante de aprender:

1) Identificando o uso do Past Continuous

Leia as frases abaixo. Todas usam o tempo verbal Past Continuous. Identifique e justifique o uso de acordo com um dos cinco motivos:

1. Ação em progresso em um momento específico no passado

2. Duas ações simultâneas no passado

3. Ação interrompida por outra ação (com Simple Past)

4. Descrição de ambiente em uma narrativa

5. Irritação com ações repetidas (com always)

Frases:

1. She was always talking during the meetings.

2. I was taking a shower when the lights went out.

3. They were eating dinner at 7 p.m.

4. It was snowing, and the children were playing outside.

5. He was sleeping when someone knocked at the door.

6. We were watching TV while dad was cooking.

7. The sun was shining and birds were singing in the morning.

8. You were always using your phone in class.

9. I was reading a book at midnight.

10. The baby was crying while I was working.

11. She was singing when the phone rang.

12. They were laughing and dancing all night.

13. I was trying to fix the printer when it stopped working.

14. She was always arriving late to class.

15. We were playing chess while our parents were talking.

16. The wind was blowing and leaves were falling.

17. He was watching the game when the power went off.

18. You were cooking while she was setting the table.

19. I was always forgetting my homework.

20. They were swimming at 10 a.m.

2) Corrigindo frases com erro de tempo verbal

As frases abaixo estão incorretas porque o tempo verbal usado não expressa corretamente a ideia da frase. Substitua o tempo verbal inadequado pelo Past Continuous, e justifique o motivo da correção.

Frases com erro (20 frases):

1. She talked during the whole meeting.

2. I took a shower when the phone rang.

3. They ate dinner at 7 p.m. yesterday.

4. It snowed and the kids played outside.

5. He slept when someone knocked.

6. We watched TV while dad cooked.

7. The sun shone and the birds sang.

8. You used your phone all the time in class.

9. I read a book at midnight.

10. The baby cried while I worked.

11. She sang when the phone rang.

12. They laughed and danced all night.

13. I tried to fix the printer when it stopped.

14. She arrived late every day.

15. We played chess while our parents talked.

16. The wind blew and the leaves fell.

17. He watched the game when the power went off.

18. You cooked while she set the table.

19. I forgot my homework every day.

20. They swam at 10 a.m.

3) Escolha o tempo verbal adequado

Leia cada situação. Escolha entre Past Continuous, Simple Past ou Present Perfect para completar a frase corretamente. Justifique sua escolha com base no uso do tempo verbal.

1. (ação inacabada no passado interrompida por outra) 

   I ________ (read) a book when the fire alarm went off. → _____________________________

2. (ação concluída em momento específico) 

   We ________ (watch) a movie last Friday night. → _____________________________

3. (ação contínua simultânea a outra) 

   He _______ (study) while his sister ______ (practice) the piano. →________________________

4. (ação repetida com irritação no passado) 

   She ________ (always/complain) about everything. → _____________________________

5. (ação com duração não definida até o presente) 

   They ________ (live) here for five years. → _____________________________

6. (descrição de ambiente em uma narrativa) 

   The wind ________ (blow) and people ________ (run). → _____________________________

7. (ação recente com resultado presente) 

   I ________ (lose) my keys! I can’t find them! → _____________________________

8. (fato habitual terminado no passado) 

   We ________ (go) to the beach every summer when we were kids. → ___________________

9. (ação em progresso em hora exata do passado) 

   At 6 p.m., I ________ (cook) dinner. → _____________________________

10. (ação que acabou de acontecer) 

    He ________ (just/arrive) at the airport. → _____________________________

GABARITO

1) (usos):

1. 5

2. 3

3. 1

4. 4

5. 3

6. 2

7. 4

8. 5

9. 1

10. 2

11. 3

12. 2

13. 3

14. 5

15. 2

16. 4

17. 3

18. 2

19. 5

20. 1

2) (correção de tempo verbal):

1. was talking – (irritação/repetição)

2. was taking – (ação em progresso interrompida)

3. were eating – (ação em progresso em hora específica)

4. was snowing / were playing – (descrição de ambiente)

5. was sleeping – (ação interrompida)

6. were watching / was cooking – (duas ações simultâneas)

7. was shining / were singing – (descrição de fundo)

8. were always using – (irritação com repetição)

9. was reading – (ação em andamento)

10. was crying / was working – (ações simultâneas)

11. was singing – (ação interrompida)

12. were laughing / were dancing – (ações em andamento)

13. was trying – (ação interrompida)

14. was always arriving – (irritação)

15. were playing / were talking – (ações simultâneas)

16. was blowing / were falling – (descrição de ambiente)

17. was watching – (ação interrompida)

18. were cooking / was setting – (ações simultâneas)

19. was always forgetting – (irritação)

20. were swimming – (ação em andamento em hora específica)

Parte 3 (tempo verbal adequado):

1. was reading → Past Continuous (ação interrompida)

2. watched → Simple Past (ação completa em tempo definido)

3. was studying / was practicing → Past Continuous (simultaneidade)

4. was always complaining → Past Continuous (irritação)

5. have lived → Present Perfect (duração até o presente)

6. was blowing / were running → Past Continuous (descrição de cena)

7. have lost → Present Perfect (resultado no presente)

8. went → Simple Past (hábito terminado)

9. was cooking → Past Continuous (ação em progresso em tempo específico)

10. has just arrived → Present Perfect (ação recém-ocorrida)

Que tal mais exercícios? Baixe aqui.