subject + was/were + verb-ingUse was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they. The main verb takes -ing.
Past Continuous
A2Past Continuous shows an action in progress at a past moment. Build it with was/were + verb + -ing.
What you'll learn
- Build Past Continuous with was/were + verb + -ing.
- Make negatives with wasn't and weren't.
- Ask questions with Was and Were.
- Choose it for actions in progress at a specific past time.
- Use it for the longer background action before another past event.
- Recognize markers like while, at 8:00, and at that moment.
Structure
subject + was/were + not + verb-ingPut not after was or were. The -ing form stays the same.
Was/Were + subject + verb-ing + ?Move was or were to the front to make a yes/no question.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
Shewasreading
She was reading at 8 p.m.
Use was with he, she, it.
When to use
Past moment in progress
Focus on what was happening at one time in the past. At 9 p.m., Lisa was driving home.
Background action
Show the longer action already in progress when another past event happened. Tom was cooking when Anna arrived.
Two actions in progress
Use it for two actions happening at the same time in the past. Maria was washing dishes while Ben was drying them.
Markers
at 8 p.m.at that momentall eveningwhilewhen I calledyesterday at noon
Spelling
most verbs
→ + ingplay → playingfinal silent -e
→ drop e, + ingmake → makingshort stressed verb + consonant
→ double consonant, + ingsit → sittingIn contrast
vs past-simple
Past Continuous shows an action in progress at that past time. Past Simple shows the finished event or the shorter action that happened.
Common mistakes
Wrong
They was waiting outside.
Correct
They were waiting outside.
Use were with you, we, they.
Wrong
She was read a message.
Correct
She was reading a message.
After was or were, use the -ing form, not the base verb.
Wrong
She didn't sleeping at eleven.
Correct
She wasn't sleeping at eleven.
Past Continuous negatives use was not or were not, not didn't.
Wrong
She was sleeping at ten?
Correct
Was she sleeping at ten?
Move was or were to the front to make the question.
Common misconceptions
❝ If an action lasted a long time in the past, it must be Past Continuous. ❞
Duration alone does not decide. Use Past Continuous when you focus on the action in progress at that past time.
❝ Past Continuous needs while in the sentence. ❞
While is common, but not required. At 9 p.m., Anna was reading is complete without while.
Skills in this rule (7)
WAS_WERE_PLUS_INGw5Build Past Continuous with was or were plus verb + -ing
Use was with I, he, she, it and were with you, we, they. The main verb takes the -ing form.
SPELL_ING_FORMw4Spell the -ing form correctly
Most verbs add -ing. Final silent -e drops, and some short verbs double the final consonant before -ing.
NEGATIVE_WAS_WERE_NOTw5Make Past Continuous negatives with was not or were not
Put not after was or were. The verb still stays in the -ing form.
QUESTIONS_WAS_WEREw5Ask questions with Was or Were plus subject plus verb + -ing
Start the question with Was or Were, then add the subject and the -ing form. Use this for actions in progress at a past time.
USE_AT_A_PAST_MOMENTw4Use Past Continuous for an action in progress at a specific past moment
Choose Past Continuous when you focus on what was happening at a certain time in the past, often with at 8:00, at that moment, or when I called.
USE_BACKGROUND_ACTIONw4Use Past Continuous for the background action around another past event
Use it for the longer action already in progress when another action happened. The shorter event is often in Past Simple.
PICK_PAST_TIME_MARKERSw3Recognize time markers that fit Past Continuous
Markers like at 9 p.m., all evening, at that moment, and while often point to an action in progress in the past.