How to form the Past Continuous: table
was (with I, he, she, it) or were (with you, we, they) + verb-ing. The -ing spelling is the same as in the Present Continuous.
| Form | I / he / she / it | you / we / they |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | He was sleeping. | They were sleeping. |
| Negative | He wasn’t sleeping. | They weren’t sleeping. |
| Question | Was he sleeping? | Were they sleeping? |
| Short answer | Yes, he was. / No, he wasn’t. | Yes, they were. / No, they weren’t. |
When to use the Past Continuous
In progress at a specific past time
At 9 o’clock last night I was watching a film.
What were you doing this time yesterday?
A longer action interrupted by a short one
The longer action is Past Continuous (often after while), the short one Past Simple (often after when).
I was walking home when it started to rain.
While we were having dinner, the lights went out.
Two actions at the same time
While I was cooking, my husband was setting the table.
Setting the scene in a story
The sun was shining and the birds were singing.
Past Continuous or Past Simple?
| Past Continuous | Past Simple | |
|---|---|---|
| Describes | a process, the background | a finished action, an event |
| Example | I was reading at 10. | I read a book yesterday. |
| Together | I was reading… | …when he came in. |
When + Past Simple, Past Simple — one action after another: When he came in, I stood up. When + Past Simple, Past Continuous — I was already in the middle of something.
Common mistakes
What learners of English often say. On the left — the mistake, on the right — the correct version.
Wrong:
I was sleep when you called.Right: I was sleeping when you called.
After was / were use verb-ing.
Wrong:
They was playing football.Right: They were playing football.
They, we, you take were.
Wrong:
When I was arriving, she left.Right: When I arrived, she was leaving.
A short action (arrive) is Past Simple.
Wrong:
I was knowing the answer.Right: I knew the answer.
Know is a state verb: no Continuous.
Check yourself
Quiz: Past tenses
24 questions with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up.
I worked · I was working · I had worked · I had been working