The Past Continuous describes an action that was in progress at a moment in the past. It sets the scene of a story and is often combined with the Past Simple for an interrupting event.
How to form the Past Continuous
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | subject + was/were + verb-ing | I was reading. · They were reading. |
| Negative | subject + was/were + not + verb-ing | She wasn't sleeping. |
| Question | Was/Were + subject + verb-ing? | Were you working at six? |
When to use the Past Continuous
- An action in progress at a time in the past: At nine I was having breakfast.
- An action interrupted by another: I was cooking when the phone rang.
- Two actions at the same time: She was reading while he was cooking.
- Background description: The sun was shining and birds were singing.
Signal words
These words often show that the Past Continuous is needed: while, when, as, at 8 o'clock yesterday, all evening, at that moment.
Examples
- I was watching TV at eight.
- They weren't listening.
- What were you doing at midnight?
- It was raining when we left.
- He fell asleep while he was driving.
- The children were playing in the garden.
Common mistakes
- Using it for a single finished event: I was visiting Rome last year → I visited Rome last year.
- Mixing up when and while: while + continuous (long action), when + simple (short event).
Frequently asked questions
Past Simple or Past Continuous?
Use the Past Simple for the event (the phone rang) and the Past Continuous for what was going on around it (I was cooking).