Past continuous · Year 2
In Year 2 you learn: was and were + -ing; an action in progress at a time in the past.
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.
Worked examples
Example 1
Complete: They ___ (play) football at four o'clock.
Answer: were playing
Example 2
Complete: At eight o'clock I ___ (eat) breakfast.
Answer: was eating
Example 3
Choose was or were: The children ___ singing and the teacher ___ playing the piano.
Answer: were, was