The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was ongoing at a specific point in the past. It emphasizes that the action was in progress, but not necessarily completed. This tense is often used to describe background actions or to show that one action was happening while another action occurred.
For example:
* I was studying for my exam when my friend called me. (Here, "studying" is the ongoing action, and "called" is the interrupting action.)
* They were watching TV when the power went out. (Here, "watching" is the ongoing action, and "went out" is the interrupting action.)
To form the past continuous tense, we use the auxiliary verb "was" or "were" followed by the present participle of the main verb (i.e., the verb ending in "-ing").
Here are 10 examples of the past continuous tense in English, Hindi, and Roman Hindi:
1. English: I was eating breakfast.
Hindi: मैं नाश्ता कर रहा था।
Roman Hindi: Main nashta kar raha tha.
2. English: She was reading a book.
Hindi: वह एक किताब पढ़ रही थी।
Roman Hindi: Vah ek kitaab padh rahi thi.
3. English: They were playing cricket.
Hindi: वे क्रिकेट खेल रहे थे।
Roman Hindi: Ve cricket khel rahe the.
4. English: We were watching a movie.
Hindi: हम एक फिल्म देख रहे थे।
Roman Hindi: Hum ek film dekh rahe the.
5. English: He was writing a letter.
Hindi: वह एक पत्र लिख रहा था।
Roman Hindi: Vah ek patra likh raha tha.
6. English: It was raining heavily.
Hindi: भारी बारिश हो रही थी।
Roman Hindi: Bhari baarish ho rahi thi.
7. English: They were dancing at the party.
Hindi: वे पार्टी में नाच रहे थे।
Roman Hindi: Ve party mein nach rahe the.
8. English: I was feeling tired.
Hindi: मैं थका हुआ महसूस कर रहा था।
Roman Hindi: Main thaka hua mehsoos kar raha tha.
9. English: She was singing a song.
Hindi: वह एक गीत गा रही थी।
Roman Hindi: Vah ek geet ga rahi thi.
10. English: We were waiting for the bus.
Hindi: हम बस की प्रतीक्षा कर रहे थे।
Roman Hindi: Hum bus ki pratiksha kar rahe the.