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Question about Past Continuous

Subject English

English

Source Originais Teachy

Originais Teachy

Topic Past Continuous

Past Continuous

Difficulty Hard

Hard

(Originais Teachy 2024) - Question Hard of English

During a recent history and literature class, students were analyzing a diary written by a young woman living in England in the 18th century. The diary entries offered insights into the daily life and challenges of that particular period, reflecting not only the personal experiences of the writer but also the broader social and cultural context of the time. As part of an interdisciplinary project, the students were tasked with not only transcribing and translating the diary into modern English but also with reflecting on the use of language to convey actions and states in the past. One of the challenging aspects encountered was the translation of the past continuous tense, which is used to express an ongoing action that was happening at a specific moment in the past. In English, this tense is typically formed with the past simple of the verb 'to be' (was/were) and the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. However, the use of this tense in the 18th-century English presented nuances that required a deep understanding of both grammar and historical context. Based on the excerpts from the diary provided and considering the linguistic and historical challenges involved, analyze the following sentences to determine the most appropriate translation of the past continuous tense in each context and discuss the implications of these translations for understanding the historical period being studied.

The correct translations of the past continuous tense should be: 'As I strolled through the gardens..., 'While I read by the fireplace...,' 'As we sat down for tea..., and 'While I wrote this entry...,' which accurately reflect the use of language in the 18th century.

The most appropriate translations of the past continuous tense in the contexts provided are: 'While I was strolling through the gardens...,' 'While I was reading by the fireplace...,' 'As we were sitting down for tea...,' and 'While I was writing this entry...,' each offering insights into the societal norms and events of the 18th century.

For an accurate depiction of the past continuous tense in the excerpts, the sentences should be translated as: 'As I am strolling through the gardens..., 'While I am reading by the fireplace..., 'As we are sitting down for tea..., and 'While I am writing this entry..., indicating a present ongoing action in the 18th century.

To properly translate the past continuous tense in the given excerpts, the sentences should read: 'While I had been strolling through the gardens..., 'While I had been reading by the fireplace..., 'As we had been sitting down for tea..., and 'While I had been writing this entry...,' aligning with the historical context of the 18th century.

The most precise translations of the past continuous tense in the provided sentences are: 'As I would stroll through the gardens..., 'While I used to read by the fireplace..., 'As we would sit down for tea..., and 'While I used to write this entry..., which capture the habitual actions of the writer in the 18th century.

Answer sheet:

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