Past Continuous
Describe past actions in progress with was/were + -ing, and combine with the past simple using when and while. A2 grammar with 20 questions.
The past continuous describes an action that was in progress at a moment in the past. At 8 o’clock last night, Emma was studying. It’s often used with the past simple to show one action interrupting another.
How to make it: was/were + verb-ing
| Subject | was/were + -ing |
|---|---|
| I / he / she / it | was studying |
| you / we / they | were studying |
was or were?Use was with I, he, she, it. Use were with you, we, they. Then add the main verb with -ing.
The classic use: interrupted actions
A long action (past continuous) is interrupted by a short action (past simple). We often join them with when and while.
- I was reading when the phone rang.
- While James was driving, it started to rain.
- Emma was cooking when Thomas came home.
when vs whileUse while + the long action (past continuous): “while I was reading.” Use when + the short action (past simple): “when the phone rang.”
Negatives and questions
- Negative: I wasn’t sleeping at midnight.
- Question: Were you working yesterday evening? – Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t.
- What were you doing at 9 o’clock?
Tutor tipLike the present continuous, this tense needs two parts: was/were + verb-ing. Don’t drop the helper: not “I reading when…” but “I was reading when…” Also choose was/were correctly by the subject.
Common mistakes
- I was read a book. → I was reading a book.
- They was playing. → They were playing.
- She were sleeping. → She was sleeping.
Practise the past continuous with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."At 8pm, Emma ___ studying."
she + was.
2."They ___ playing football."
they + were.
3."I ___ reading a book."
I + was.
4.Which is correct?
was + reading.
5.Which is correct?
they + were playing.
6.Which is correct?
she + was sleeping.
7."I was reading ___ the phone rang."
when + short action (rang).
8."___ James was driving, it started to rain."
while + long action (was driving).
9."Emma was cooking when Thomas ___ home."
short action = past simple: came.
10.Negative: "I ___ sleeping at midnight."
I + wasn't.
11.Question: "___ you working yesterday evening?"
you + Were.
12.Answer: "Were you studying?" (yes)
Yes, I was.
13."What ___ you doing at 9 o'clock?"
you + were doing.
14."He ___ watching TV when I called."
he + was watching.
15."We ___ having dinner at 7."
we + were.
16.The past continuous describes an action that was ___.
in progress at a past moment.
17."While she ___, the lights went out."
while + past continuous: was reading.
18."It ___ raining when we left."
it + was raining.
19.Negative: "They ___ listening."
they + weren't.
20.Choose the full correct sentence:
was playing + when arrived.
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