Past tenseEnglish level A2
Past Continuous
Use it for an action in progress at a specific moment in the past.
Rule
Build it with was/were + V-ing.
It often combines with Past Simple to describe a process interrupted by another action.
Tip
Past Continuous is the background scene;
Past Simple is the event that interrupts it: I was cooking when he called.
Formula
| Positive (+) | I/He/She/It + was + V-ingYou/We/They + were + V-ing | I was sleeping at 8 pm.They were playing football. |
|---|---|---|
| Negative (-) | I/He/She/It + wasn't + V-ingYou/We/They + weren't + V-ing | They weren't playing.She wasn't working. |
| Question (?) | Was + subject + V-ing?Were + subject + V-ing? | Was she sleeping?Were they playing? |
Time markers
whenwhileat 5 o'clockat that momentall day
Notes
- I was cooking when he called. (process + moment)
- While she was reading, I was cooking. (two parallel actions)
Practice
I missing word sleeping at 8 pm.
While she missing word reading, I was cooking.
They missing word playing football all day.