Past Continuous
The past continuous (also called past progressive) describes actions in progress at a specific time in the past.
Formation
Affirmative
was/were + verb-ing
| Subject | Was/Were + Verb-ing |
|---|---|
| I / He / She / It | was working |
| You / We / They | were working |
Examples:
- I was reading a book.
- She was cooking dinner.
- They were playing football.
Negative
was/were + not + verb-ing
- I was not (wasn’t) sleeping.
- She wasn’t working.
- They were not (weren’t) listening.
Questions
Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?
- Was she sleeping?
- Were they listening?
- What were you doing?
When to Use Past Continuous
1. Action in Progress at a Specific Time
What was happening at a particular moment:
- At 8 pm, I was watching TV.
- This time last year, I was living in London.
- What were you doing at midnight?
2. Interrupted Actions
Action in progress interrupted by another action:
- I was taking a shower when the phone rang.
- She was walking home when it started to rain.
- They were having dinner when we arrived.
Pattern: Past continuous + when + simple past
3. Parallel Actions
Two or more actions happening at the same time:
- While I was cooking, she was cleaning.
- He was reading while the children were playing.
- The sun was shining and the birds were singing.
Pattern: While + past continuous, past continuous
4. Background/Setting in Stories
Setting the scene:
- It was raining. The wind was blowing. She was walking alone…
- Everyone was dancing and laughing at the party.
5. Temporary Past Situations
- I was working in a café that summer.
- She was staying with friends while looking for a flat.
6. Annoying Past Habits (with “always”)
- He was always complaining about everything!
- She was constantly losing her things.
Simple Past vs. Past Continuous
| Simple Past | Past Continuous |
|---|---|
| Completed action | Action in progress |
| Short action | Longer action |
| What happened? | What was happening? |
Examples:
-
I read a book yesterday. (completed)
-
I was reading a book at 8 pm. (in progress at that time)
-
She arrived at 7. (completed)
-
I was cooking when she arrived. (in progress → interrupted)
When vs. While
When + simple past (short action):
- I was sleeping when the alarm went off.
While + past continuous (longer action):
- While I was sleeping, someone called.
Both possible:
- When/While I was walking home, I met an old friend.
Common Patterns
Past Continuous + When + Simple Past
The longer action is interrupted:
- I was driving when I saw the accident.
- She was sleeping when the earthquake hit.
While + Past Continuous, Simple Past
- While I was shopping, I lost my wallet.
- While she was running, she fell.
While + Past Continuous, Past Continuous
Two parallel actions:
- While I was working, he was watching TV.
Practice
Choose the correct form:
-
“What ___ you ___ (do) at 9 pm last night?” → What were you doing at 9 pm last night?
-
“I ___ (sleep) when you ___ (call).” → I was sleeping when you called.
-
“While she ___ (talk) on the phone, someone ___ (knock) on the door.” → While she was talking on the phone, someone knocked on the door.
-
“At this time last year, I ___ (travel) through Europe.” → At this time last year, I was traveling through Europe.
The past continuous is the ideal tense for setting a scene in a story. Describe the background with past continuous (It was raining, people were rushing), then introduce the key event with simple past (when the lights went out).