Past continuous

Introduction

The past continuous is used to describe a continuous action in the past (the action starts and finishes in the past).

The action may be interrupted by a shorter action (past simple) or by a specific time, for example:

I	was preparing	dinner when he	arrived.
	past continuous		past simple

At 8am	yesterday I	was working.
specific time		past continuous

We can also describe two continuous actions happening at the same time, for example:

While he	was watching	television, his sisters	were doing	their homework.
	past continuous		past continuous

Part 1 - Past continuous positive

We make the past continuous with
the past form of the verb "to be" ("was", "were")
+ the "ing’" form of the main verb (present participle)

For example:

I He / She / It	was	playing	football.
You We They	were

I He / She / It	was	watching	television.
You We They	were

I He / She / It	was	reading	a book.
You We They	were

Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct past continuous positive form of the verb in brackets.

.

1)

At 4am this morning, I . (sleep)

2)

She when the alarm started. (dream)

3)

They to London when the accident happened. (travel)

4)

We a film while they were making dinner. (watch)

Part 2 - Past continuous negative

To make a negative sentence we use "wasn't" ("was not") / "weren't" ("were not").

For example:

I He / She / It	wasn't	playing	football.
You We They	weren't

I He / She / It	wasn't	watching	television.
You We They	weren't

I He / She / It	wasn't	reading	a book.
You We They	weren't

Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct past continuous negative form of the verb in brackets.

.

1)

We rice for the curry. (boil)

2)

He the house alone. (build)

3)

I the accident very well. (describe)

4)

The clothes very quickly. (dry)

Part 3 - Past continuous questions

To make questions we put "was" / "were" before the subject

For example:

Was	he	playing	football?
Were	you

Was	she	watching	television?
Were	they

Was the dog running?
Were we being noisy?

Short answers

Yes,	I he / she / it	was.
No,	I he / she / it	wasn't.
Yes,	you we they	were.
No,	you we they	weren't.

Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct past continuous question form of the verb in brackets.

.

1)

you when I called? (bake)

2)

the pasta long enough? (boil)

3)

he you? (annoy)

4)

they the highest mountain? (climb)

Further practice

Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence: a, b, c or d.
.

1)

The teacher ____ exam papers for 5 hours.

were correcting

weren't correcting

was correcting

was corrected

2)

They ____ the man with a blanket when the doctor arrived.

were covering

was covering

wasn't covering

were they covering

3)

____ the street when the accident happened?

He were crossing

You wasn't crossing

Was they crossing

Were you crossing

4)

____ crying for the whole film?

They was

Were she

Was they

Was she

5)

They ____ the accident.

were they discussing

weren't discussing

wasn't discussing

was discussing

6)

He ____ more than her.

are earning

wasn't earning

were earning

weren't earning

Intermediate language point

The past continuous is considered a narrative tense and can be used to create or describe the atmosphere at a time in the past or for a story.

For example: