Past continuous

The past continuous is ⟦was⟧ or ⟦were⟧ + the ⟦-ing⟧ form: ⟦I was reading.⟧ It describes an action in progress at a time in the past, often a background action that is interrupted by a short action in the past simple: ⟦I was reading when the phone rang.⟧

Key facts

  • ⟦I⟧, ⟦he⟧, ⟦she⟧, ⟦it⟧ + ⟦was⟧; ⟦you⟧, ⟦we⟧, ⟦they⟧ + ⟦were⟧: ⟦She was cooking.⟧ ⟦They were playing.⟧
  • In progress at a time: ⟦At eight o'clock I was having dinner.⟧
  • Background + interruption: ⟦We were walking home when it started to rain.⟧ The long action: past continuous; the short one: past simple.
  • ⟦while⟧ often comes before the longer action: ⟦While I was waiting, I read a book.⟧
  • Negative: ⟦wasn't⟧ / ⟦weren't⟧ + ⟦-ing⟧. Question: ⟦Was she sleeping?⟧ ⟦Were you listening?⟧

Worked examples

Example 1

Complete: ⟦They ___ (play) football at four o'clock.⟧

  1. The subject ⟦They⟧ takes ⟦were⟧.
  2. Add the ⟦-ing⟧ form: ⟦were playing⟧.

Answer: ⟦were playing⟧

Example 2

Complete: ⟦I ___ (have) a shower when the doorbell rang.⟧

  1. The shower was the longer action, in progress: past continuous.
  2. ⟦have⟧ drops its ⟦e⟧: ⟦having⟧.
  3. ⟦I was having a shower when the doorbell rang.⟧

Answer: ⟦was having⟧

Example 3

Make it a question: ⟦She was sleeping.⟧

  1. Put ⟦Was⟧ before the subject.
  2. ⟦Was she sleeping?⟧

Answer: ⟦Was she sleeping?⟧