Lesson 061 min read · free

Past Continuous

An action in progress in the past: “She was working.”

The lesson

An action in progress at a moment in the past: At 8 p.m. last night, I was cooking.
A longer action interrupted by a shorter one: I was walking home when it started to rain.
Two actions happening at the same time: She was reading while he was cooking.
Background description in stories: The sun was shining and birds were singing.

was / were + verb-ing

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
I / he / she / it	He was working	He wasn't working	Was he working?
you / we / they	They were working	They weren't working	Were they working?

while + past continuous: While I was walking, I saw a dog.
when + simple past (the interrupting action): I was walking when I saw a dog.

at 6 p.m. yesterday, all day, while, when, as, at that moment

I sleeping at 10 p.m.

I was sleeping at 10 p.m.

The past continuous needs was / were before the -ing verb.

They was playing outside.

They were playing outside.

Use were with you, we and they.

I was cooking when she was calling.

I was cooking when she called.

The short interrupting action uses the simple past.

She didn't listening.

She wasn't listening.

Make the negative with wasn't / weren't + -ing.

Did you studying?

Were you studying?

Put was / were before the subject to make a question.

Pick the right form. In the app you get instant checking, hints and your score.

1.The students were talking loudly when the teacher in.
- walks
- has walked
- walked
- was walking
2.At 9 p.m. last night, I TV.
- am watching
- were watching
- was watching
- watched
3.The kids loudly all afternoon.
- were shouting
- are shouting
- was shouting
- shouted