Grammar › Verb Tenses › Past Continuous
Past Continuous
The past continuous (was/were + verb-ing) is for an action in progress in the past. Use it for:
- An action in progress at a past moment — At eight o’clock last night, I was cooking dinner.
- A longer action interrupted by a shorter one — I was reading when the phone rang.
- Two actions at the same time — She was singing while he was cooking.
Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they. The short action that interrupts takes the past simple (the phone rang).
How to form the past continuous
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | subject + was/were + verb-ing | She was working. / We were waiting. |
| Negative | subject + wasn’t/weren’t + verb-ing | They weren’t listening. |
| Question | Was/Were + subject + verb-ing? | Were you sleeping? |
Use was with I, he, she, it and were with you, we, they. In a question with a question word, was/were comes next: What were you doing?
Short answers: Yes, I was. / No, they weren’t.
Time expressions: at eight o’clock last night, this time yesterday, all evening, while, when.
Spelling of the -ing form
| Rule | Verb ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| add -ing | most verbs | walk → walking, play → playing |
| drop -e, add -ing | verbs ending in -e | make → making, write → writing |
| double the consonant | short verb, consonant–vowel–consonant | run → running, stop → stopping |
| -ie → -ying | verbs ending in -ie | lie → lying, die → dying |
Verbs ending in -w, -x or -y do not double the last letter (snowing, fixing, playing).
When to use the past continuous
1. An action in progress at a past time
The action started before that moment and was still going on.
- At ten o’clock last night, I was studying.
- This time yesterday, we were flying to Rome.
2. A longer action interrupted by a shorter one
The long action is the past continuous. The short action that interrupts it is the past simple.
- I was having a shower when the doorbell rang.
⚠️ Typical error: ✗
I had a shower when the doorbell rang.→ ✓ I was having a shower when the doorbell rang. (The longer action was already in progress.)
3. Two actions at the same time
Often with while. Both actions are past continuous.
- While she was cooking, he was setting the table.
When and while
| Word | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| while | before the longer action in progress | I fell while I was skiing. |
| when | before the short action that interrupts (past simple) | I was skiing when I fell. |
| at + time | start or end of the sentence | At eight last night, I was cooking. |
| all evening / all day | end of the sentence | They were playing games all evening. |
State verbs
Some verbs describe a state, not an action in progress: know, want, like, love, understand, believe. They use the past simple, not the continuous.
- ✗
I was knowing the answer.→ ✓ I knew the answer.
Common mistakes
1. Past simple for the action in progress. If the action was already going on when another action happened, use the past continuous. ✗ I had a shower when the doorbell rang. → ✓ I was having a shower when the doorbell rang.
2. Wrong was/were. ✗ You was sleeping. → ✓ You were sleeping. Was = I/he/she/it; were = you/we/they.
3. Past continuous with a state verb. ✗ I was wanting a new bike. → ✓ I wanted a new bike.
✏️ Practice: Past Continuous
1. I ___ a shower when the doorbell rang, so I answered the door in a towel.
2. While she ___ dinner, he was setting the table.
3. My parents ___ watching the news when I got home.
4. I ___ the answer, so I raised my hand.
5. At five o’clock yesterday, it ___ hard, so we took umbrellas when we left.
6. ___ they waiting for us when we arrived?
7. He broke his leg while he ___ skiing.
8. When the lights went out, we ___ a film.
9. Choose the correct sentence.
10. At six this morning, Lucy ___ for the train.
11. Fill in the gap
At eight o’clock last night, we ___ dinner. (eat)
Type was/were + the -ing form.
12. Correct the mistake
You was sleeping when I called.
Type the whole corrected sentence.
13. Correct the mistake
I was knowing the answer.
Type the whole corrected sentence.
✏️ Practice: Fill in the gaps
Type the past continuous of the verb in brackets (was/were + -ing). In negatives use wasn’t/weren’t; in questions include the subject. Twenty original sentences.
✏️ Practice: Put it in order
Tap the words to build each sentence — 20 examples covering past moments, interrupted actions, negatives and questions.
✏️ Practice: Match the -ing form
Tap a base verb, then tap its -ing form. Watch the spelling: some drop an -e, some double a letter.
✏️ Practice: Beat the clock
15 seconds per question. Check the time clue (when, while, at eight o’clock) and watch for state verbs.
20 questions, 15 seconds each. The clock starts when you press Start.
✏️ Practice: Find the mistake
Each sentence has exactly one mistake. Tap the word you think is wrong. Twenty original sentences.
✏️ Level check: How well do you know it?
20 mixed questions — typing, word order, -ing spelling, multiple choice, and spot-the-mistake. In the typing questions write was/were + -ing (wasn’t/weren’t in negatives; include the subject in questions). One pass, then a breakdown of where you’re strong and where to go back and practise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the past simple and the past continuous?
The past simple is for a finished action (I cooked dinner). The past continuous is for an action that was in progress at a past moment (I was cooking when he arrived).
How do I use ‘when’ and ‘while’?
‘While’ introduces the longer action in progress (while I was cooking). ‘When’ often introduces the short action that interrupts it (when the phone rang).
Do I use ‘was’ or ‘were’?
Use ‘was’ with I, he, she and it. Use ‘were’ with you, we and they.
Can I use the past continuous with state verbs?
No. Verbs like know, want and like describe states, so they use the past simple: I knew the answer, not I was knowing the answer.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Past Continuous”:
- Can form affirmative, negative and interrogative past continuous sentences with was/were + -ing (CEFR A2).
- Can spell the -ing form correctly (drop -e, double the final consonant).
- Can combine the past continuous and past simple for an interrupted action, using when and while.
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