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Каушанская В.Л. - A Grammar of the English Lang...docx
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§ 12. The use of the Past Continuous.

  1. The Past Continuous is used to denote an action which was going on at a definite moment in the past.

It was twelve and he was still sitting, when the presence of Cowperwood was announced. (Dreiser)

The definite moment is indicated either by another past ac­tion expressed by a verb in the Past Indefinite or by an adverbial phrase.

When I returned, she was sweeping the floor. (Bennett)

At midnight he was still working, though he was feeling ill and was longing to go to bed.

The definite moment is often not expressed, but understood from the situation.

He did not notice what was going on around him — he was reading.

The Past Continuous is used to denote a certain state or quality peculiar to the person at a given moment in the past.

He knew he was being scientific and restrained. (Cronin)

  1. The Past Continuous or the Past Indefinite is often used after such phrases as the whole day, all day long.

They were working in the garden all day long. They worked in the garden all day long.

  1. The Past Continuous is used to denote an action thought of as a continual process. In this case the adverbs always, ever; constantly are used. The Past Continuous in this use is often to be found in emotional speech.

She was constantly complaining of being lonely. (Shaw)

He was never able to look after his flowers at all, for his friend, the Miller, was always coming round and sending him off on long errands or getting him to help on the mill. (Wilde)

The Past Continuous is rendered in Russian by the past imperfective.

When I came home, she was cooking dinner. — Когда я вер­нулся, она готовила обед.

The Future Continuous

§13. The formation of the Future Continuous.

    1. The Future Continuous is formed by means of the Future Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb.

    2. In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the first auxiliary verb.

Affirmative

Interrogative

I shall/will be reading

He will be reading

She will be reading

We shall/will be reading

You will be reading

They will be reading

Shall/Will I be reading?

Will he be reading?

Will she be reading?

Shall/Will we be reading?

Will you be reading?

Will they be reading

Negative

I shall/will not be reading

He will not be reading

She will not be reading

We shall/will not be reading

You will not be reading

They will not be reading

    1. The contracted affirmative forms are: