The past continuous tense of 'want' is was wanting or were wanting, depending on the subject.
While 'want' is commonly considered a stative verb (expressing a state rather than an action) and is less frequently used in continuous tenses than action verbs, its past continuous form is grammatically correct and can be used to emphasize a continuous or developing desire, or a more tentative or polite expression of a wish.
Understanding the Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous tense, also known as the past progressive tense, describes an action or state that was ongoing at some point in the past. It is formed using the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were) followed by the present participle (the -ing form) of the main verb.
It is often used for:
- Actions happening at a specific time in the past: "At 8 PM last night, I was watching a movie."
- Actions interrupted by another action: "I was sleeping when the phone rang."
- Parallel actions: "While he was reading, she was cooking dinner."
- Emphasizing duration or an ongoing state: This is where 'wanting' can sometimes fit, though it's less common than with action verbs.
Conjugation of 'Want' in the Past Continuous Tense
Here is how the verb 'want' is conjugated in the past continuous tense:
| Pronoun | Past Continuous Form |
|---|---|
| I | was wanting |
| You | were wanting |
| He, She, It | was wanting |
| We | were wanting |
| They | were wanting |
Practical Insights and Examples
Although less common, 'wanting' in the past continuous can convey specific nuances.
- Emphasizing a continuous or developing desire:
- "I was wanting to tell you something all day yesterday, but I never got the chance." (This implies a continuous internal state of wanting.)
- "She was wanting a new car for months before she finally bought one."
- Expressing a more tentative or polite request in the past:
- "I was just wanting to ask if you had a moment to spare." (This can sound softer than "I wanted to ask.")
- To describe a need or desire that was ongoing during a particular past period:
- "We were wanting a break from work during that entire stressful week."
It's important to note that for many common situations, the simple past tense ("wanted") is sufficient and often preferred for 'want', as it avoids the progressive aspect which can sometimes sound a little unusual with stative verbs. However, as demonstrated, 'was wanting' and 'were wanting' are grammatically correct and serve specific communicative purposes.
For further exploration of verb tenses and their applications, you can consult reliable grammar resources such as those found on Grammarly's blog.
