the ongoing nature or duration

[ostap77]

We can use the past progressive or the past perfect progressive to stress the ongoing nature in the past. Correct?

1)"We were watching a soccer match before we went out."

OR

2)"W had been watching a soccer match before we went out."

Would people prefere to use the past progressive in this context in informal conversation?

We can never use the past progressive to stress the duration. Correct?

3)"I was watching a soccer match for 30 minutes( half an hour) before we went out." Would be incorrect?

OR

4)"I had been watching a soccer for half an hour ( 30 minutes) before we went out." Correct?

Though we can use it in a question
5) "How long were you watching a soccer match for before you went out?" Correct?

If we want to give a full answer not a short one "Half an hour" than we say

6) "We had been watching for half an hour before we went out." Correct?

 

[ostap77]

We can use the past progressive or the past perfect progressive to stress the ongoing nature in the past. Correct?

1)"We were watching a soccer match before we went out."

OR

2)"W had been watching a soccer match before we went out."

Would people prefere to use the past progressive in this context in informal conversation?

We can never use the past progressive to stress the duration. Correct?

3)"I was watching a soccer match for 30 minutes( half an hour) before we went out." Would be incorrect?

OR

4)"I had been watching a soccer for half an hour ( 30 minutes) before we went out." Correct?

Though we can use it in a question
5) "How long were you watching a soccer match for before you went out?" Correct?

If we want to give a full answer not a short one "Half an hour" than we say

6) "We had been watching for half an hour before we went out." Correct?

I want to get the hang of it. Can I get a word of advice from you?