گرامر زمان گذشته ی استمراری

Past Continuous

Sometimes hundreds of men were carrying the huge stones to and from the boats.

How many men were carrying the huge stones to and from the boats? Sometimes hundreds of men were carrying the huge stones to and from the boats.

Back home they were using the stones for large transactions such as a wedding dowry or payment of large debts.

Were they sometimes using the stones for paying for purple Chihuahuas? No, they weren’t using the stones for paying for purple Chihuahuas. They were using the stones for large transactions such as a wedding dowry or payment of large debts.

Although the ownership of the stone was changing hands with every transaction, the stones were staying where they were.

What was staying where they were? The stones were staying where they were.

No one was forgetting who owned which stone.

Was everyone forgetting who owned which stone? No, everyone wasn’t forgetting who owned which stone. No one was forgetting who owned which stone.

They were using the stone money in a very abstract way.

In what way were they using the stone money? They were using the stone money in a very abstract way.

Over a hundred years ago, some sailors from Yap were bringing a stone home when it fell into the ocean and was never seen again.

Where were they bringing it? They were bringing it home. What were they bringing home? They were bringing a stone home. Who was bringing a stone home? Sailors from Yap were bringing a stone home.

When the sailors returned home empty handed, everyone was taking them at their word.

Was everyone calling them liars? No, everyone wasn’t calling them liars. Everyone was taking them at their word.

They were agreeing that the lost stone still could be used as money even though no one could touch it or even see it.

Were they agreeing that lost sailors could be used as money? No, they weren’t agreeing that lost sailors could be used as money. They were agreeing that the lost stone could be used as money.

Jane Park wasn’t using money in an abstract way.

Who wasn’t using money in an abstract way? Jane Park wasn’t using money in an abstract way.

She was saying that winning the lottery ruined her life.

What was she saying? She was saying that winning the lottery ruined her life.

In 2013, 17-year-old Park was working as an administrative assistant earning 8 euros an hour.

Was Park working as a doctor? No, Park wasn’t working as a doctor. Park was working as an administrative assistant. How much was she earning? She was earning 8 euros an hour.

After winning 1 million pounds she was shopping all the time.

Was she working all the time? No, she wasn’t working all the time. She was shopping all the time.

She was buying 50 designer handbags, a Chihuahua named Princess, a purple SUV, and breast enhancement surgery.

How many designer handbags was she buying? She was buying 50 designer handbags. What else was she buying? She was also buying a Chihuahua named Princess, a purple SUV and breast enhancement surgery.

It’s no surprise that these things weren’t adding to her happiness.

Are you surprised that these things weren’t adding to her happiness?