Pasado continuo en inglés: teoría completa, usos, diferencias y ejercicios

El pasado continuo en inglés (past continuous o past progressive) describe acciones en curso en un momento específico del pasado. Su estructura es was/were + verbo en -ing. En Inglaterra en Casa enseñamos el pasado continuo en inglés con dinámicas participativas para que el alumnado interiorice cuándo usarlo, cómo evitar errores y cómo distinguirlo del pasado simple y del pasado perfecto. Este contenido reúne teoría, matices de uso, diferencias entre inglés británico y americano, notas de slang y un gran bloque de ejercicios resueltos.

1. Estructura del pasado continuo en inglés

1.1. Afirmativa

Sujeto + was/were + verbo(-ing). Ej.: I was studying, They were cooking. El pasado continuo en inglés requiere el auxiliar to be en pasado (was/were) y la forma en -ing del verbo principal.

1.2. Negativa

Sujeto + wasn’t/weren’t + verbo(-ing). Ej.: She wasn’t listening. En el pasado continuo en inglés, la negación se forma con was not / were not o su contracción.

1.3. Interrogativa

Was/Were + sujeto + verbo(-ing)? Ej.: Were you watching the match? En el pasado continuo en inglés, el auxiliar invierte su posición con el sujeto para preguntar.

7. Slang y usos coloquiales del pasado continuo en inglés

7.1. “I was like…” (discurso aproximado)

En conversación coloquial, I was like… introduce reacción o cita libre: I was like, “No way!”. Aunque no siempre describe progreso real, encaja con el patrón del pasado continuo en inglés en registros informales.

7.2. “We were just chillin’” (gerundios coloquiales)

Gerundios con apóstrofo (chillin’, talkin’) acentúan la informalidad: We were just chillin’ at home. Mantienen el sentido de acción en curso del pasado continuo en inglés.

7.3. Duración emocional

Para enfatizar emociones en proceso: I was freaking out, They were laughing so hard. El pasado continuo en inglés refuerza el matiz procesual de la emoción.

8. Errores frecuentes y cómo evitarlos

8.1. Olvidar el auxiliar

Error: He working. Correcto en pasado continuo en inglés: He was working.

8.2. Usar pasado simple donde se necesita fondo

Error: I cooked when you arrived (secuencia). Con pasado continuo en inglés: I was cooking when you arrived (interrupción).

8.3. Verbo estático en -ing sin cambio de sentido

Cuidado con know, want, believe. En el pasado continuo en inglés general se prefieren simples: I knew the answer.

9. Resumen operativo

El pasado continuo en inglés = “escena en marcha” en el pasado. Combínalo con pasado simple para interrupciones, con while/as para simultaneidad y cuida la forma was/were + -ing. En Inglaterra en Casa (Valencia: Marxalenes, Benimaclet, Mislata), lo practicamos con juegos de rol, proyectos y situaciones reales para automatizar su uso.

10. Ejercicios de pasado continuo en inglés

10.1. Completa con “was/were + -ing” (1–10)

1. At 7 pm, I __________ (cook) pasta.
2. They __________ (watch) a documentary when I called.
3. She __________ (not/listen) to the teacher.
4. We __________ (wait) for the bus at that moment.
5. He __________ (run) while it started to rain.
6. The kids __________ (play) in the garden all afternoon.
7. I __________ (study) when you texted me.
8. My parents __________ (have) dinner at 9.
9. It __________ (snow) all night long.
10. We __________ (not/work); we __________ (relax).

10.2. Elige la opción correcta (11–20)

11. When the phone rang, I (was having / had) a shower.
12. They (were walking / walked) home as it got dark.
13. She (was reading / read) while I cooked.
14. At 10, we (were taking / took) the exam.
15. The dog (was barking / barked) when the doorbell rang.
16. I (wasn’t listening / didn’t listen) to the radio then.
17. They (were playing / played) football all evening.
18. He (was jogging / jogged) when he twisted his ankle.
19. We (were studying / studied) as our friends arrived.
20. I (was thinking / thought) about you yesterday at 5.

10.3. Transforma a pasado continuo en inglés (21–30)

21. I read when you arrived → __________
22. They have dinner at 9 (ayer) → __________
23. She cooks as I set the table → __________
24. We walk when it starts to rain → __________
25. He studies at that moment → __________
26. You talk while I drive → __________
27. The kids play all afternoon → __________
28. My sister watch TV at 8 → __________
29. It rain the whole night → __________
30. We not work yesterday at 6 → __________

10.4. Escribe la pregunta en pasado continuo en inglés (31–40)

31. you / study / at 7? → __________
32. she / talk / to you / when I called? → __________
33. they / play / football / at the park? → __________
34. he / listen / to music / yesterday? → __________
35. it / snow / at midnight? → __________
36. where / you / go / when I saw you? → __________
37. what / they / do / at 9? → __________
38. who / she / talk to / then? → __________
39. why / he / cry / last night? → __________
40. how long / you / wait / at the station? → __________

10.5. Encuentra el error (41–50)

41. I working when you called.
42. She were studying at 6.
43. They was play football.
44. We wasn’t listening to the news.
45. He not was cooking; he watching TV.
46. Were you studied at 8?
47. It were raining all day.
48. I was read when you arrived.
49. They didn’t were talking.
50. She wasn’t listen the teacher.

Preguntas frecuentes sobre el pasado continuo en inglés

¿Qué es exactamente el pasado continuo en inglés?

Es un tiempo verbal que expresa acciones en progreso en un momento del pasado. Su forma es was/were + -ing.

¿Cuándo usar pasado continuo y no pasado simple?

Usa pasado simple para hechos puntuales y finalizados; usa pasado continuo en inglés para acciones en desarrollo o de fondo, especialmente si otra las interrumpe.

¿Se puede usar con verbos de estado?

En general, los verbos estativos (know, want, believe) prefieren formas simples. El uso continuo puede aparecer en narrativa creativa por efecto estilístico.

¿Hay diferencias entre inglés británico y americano?

La gramática del pasado continuo en inglés es prácticamente idéntica. Las variaciones más visibles son ortográficas (travelling vs traveling).

¿Cómo practicarlo para interiorizarlo?

Combina teoría con actividades reales. En Inglaterra en Casa lo trabajamos con juegos de rol, proyectos y situaciones prácticas para dominar el pasado continuo en inglés de forma natural.

Soluciones de los ejercicios

Soluciones 10.1 (1–10)

1. was cooking
2. were watching
3. wasn’t listening
4. were waiting
5. was running
6. were playing
7. was studying
8. were having
9. was snowing
10. weren’t working; were relaxing

Soluciones 10.2 (11–20)

11. was having
12. were walking
13. was reading
14. were taking
15. was barking
16. wasn’t listening
17. were playing
18. was jogging
19. were studying
20. was thinking

Soluciones 10.3 (21–30)

21. I was reading when you arrived.
22. They were having dinner at 9 yesterday.
23. She was cooking as I was setting the table.
24. We were walking when it started to rain.
25. He was studying at that moment.
26. You were talking while I was driving.
27. The kids were playing all afternoon.
28. My sister was watching TV at 8.
29. It was raining the whole night.
30. We weren’t working yesterday at 6.

Soluciones 10.4 (31–40)

31. Were you studying at 7?
32. Was she talking to you when I called?
33. Were they playing football at the park?
34. Was he listening to music yesterday?
35. Was it snowing at midnight?
36. Where were you going when I saw you?
37. What were they doing at 9?
38. Who was she talking to then?
39. Why was he crying last night?
40. How long were you waiting at the station?

Soluciones 10.5 (41–50)

41. I was working when you called.
42. She was studying at 6.
43. They were playing football.
44. We weren’t listening to the news.
45. He wasn’t cooking; he was watching TV.
46. Were you studying at 8?
47. It was raining all day.
48. I was reading when you arrived.
49. They weren’t talking.
50. She wasn’t listening to the teacher.