Past Continuous
Learn how to use the past continuous tense to describe ongoing actions and situations in the past
⏰ When do we use Past Continuous
We use the past continuous to:
-
Describe Actions in Progress at a Specific Past Moment:
- I was reading when you called me.
- She was studying at 9 PM last night.
-
Show Two Actions Happening Simultaneously:
- While I was cooking, my brother was doing his homework.
- They were playing football when it started raining.
-
Express Temporary Situations in the Past:
- They were staying at a hotel during their vacation.
- She was traveling to Paris last summer.
-
Describe Interrupted Actions:
- She was watching TV when the power went out.
- He was walking to the park when he saw the accident.
📌 Structure
- Affirmative:
Subject + was/were + verb-ing - Negative:
Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing - Question:
Was/Were + subject + verb-ing? - WH-Questions:
WH-word + was/were + subject + verb-ing?
📝 Note
Important rules for forming the past continuous:
- “Was” with singular subjects: I, he, she, it was + verb-ing
- “Were” with plural subjects: you, we, they were + verb-ing
- Verb form: Always use the -ing form of the main verb
Examples: I was studying, They were playing, She wasn’t working, Were you sleeping?
💬 Examples
✅ Affirmative Examples
- I was reading a book when the phone rang.
- They were working on the project all day.
- She was traveling to Paris last summer.
- We were having dinner when they arrived.
❌ Negative Examples
- I wasn’t sleeping when you called.
- They weren’t paying attention during the meeting.
- She wasn’t feeling well yesterday.
- We weren’t expecting visitors.
❓ Question Examples
- Were you studying at 8 PM?
- Was he working late last night?
- What were you doing when I called?
- Where were they going when you saw them?
🎯 Common Time Expressions
⏰ Specific Time Points
- at 9 PM: I was studying at 9 PM.
- at midnight: She was sleeping at midnight.
- yesterday morning: They were working yesterday morning.
- last night: We were watching TV last night.
🔄 Simultaneous Actions
- while: While I was cooking, he was cleaning.
- as: As she was leaving, it started raining.
- during: During the meeting, he was taking notes.
⚡ Interrupted Actions
- when: I was reading when you called.
- suddenly: She was walking when suddenly it started raining.
- just as: Just as we were leaving, they arrived.
🎯 Practice Exercises
⬇️ Interactive exercise will appear here soon.
Ready to Describe Ongoing Actions in the Past in English?
Using the Past Continuous (was/were + -ing) correctly is a fantastic step to describing actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past, or that were interrupted. It brings your past narratives to life!
Do you want to practice forming these sentences and using them naturally when recounting past events? My online English classes offer fun, interactive ways to master the Past Continuous and all other essential grammar points. You’ll get plenty of chances to speak and build your confidence.
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