Past Continuous

The past continuous tense is a way to talk about actions or events that were happening in the past. It is formed by using the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were) and adding the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.

PositiveNegativeNegative short form
I was cryingI was not cryingI wasn't crying
You were explainingYou were explainingYou were explaining
She, he, it was workingShe, he, it was not workingShe, he, it wasn't working
We were thinkingWe were not thinkingWe weren't thinking
They were talkingThey were not talkingThey weren't talking

We use the past continuous to describe something that was happening in the past when another other event interrupted it or a repetitive action that no is no longer happening.

  • I was dancing when the fight started.
  • She was watching a movie when her friend told her the news.
  • I was working in the garden when the delivery guy came to the door.
  • He was talking to his sister when his daughter came home.
  • They were studying in October.

Take a Quiz!

  • 1. I ___________ about a solution when Nia came up with a great idea.
  • 2. You ___________ loudly when the fight started.
  • 3. It __________ a lot when I noticed my car door was broken.
  • 4. They _____________ on the computer all day.
  • 5. He __________ when his boss called him.
  • 6. I __________ some vegetables when he told me he had already ordered our lunch.
  • 7. We _________ to our colleagues during the meeting.
  • 8. He ___________ dinner when the phone rang.
  • 9. They ___________ clothes when they heard a noise.
  • 10. It ____________ .