Past Continuous Tense

The Past Continuous tense describes actions that were happening at a certain moment in the past. It often gives background information or shows that an action was in progress when something else happened.

1. Form

Subject + was/were + verb(-ing)

I/He/She/It → was + -ing
You/We/They → were + -ing

Examples:

I was watching TV at 8 p.m. last night.
They were playing football in the park.
She was studying when you called.

2. When Do We Use It?

a) Action in progress at a specific time in the past

At 9 o’clock yesterday, I was driving to work.
He was sleeping at midnight.

b) Two actions happening at the same time (parallel actions)

While I was cooking, she was cleaning.
They were playing music while we were dancing.

c) Background action interrupted by another action (Past Simple)

I was reading a book when the phone rang.
She was walking home when it started to rain.

d) To describe the atmosphere or scene in the past

The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.
People were talking loudly in the café.

3. Signal Words

while
when
at that moment
at (specific time) yesterday/last night

Examples:

She was watching TV while I was studying.
I was working at 10 a.m. yesterday.

4. Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct
I was watch TV yesterday at 8.	I was watching TV yesterday at 8.
They was playing football.	They were playing football.
When the phone rang, I read a book.	When the phone rang, I was reading a book.

5. Comparison with Past Simple

Past Continuous = action in progress, longer action, background.
- I was taking a shower when he called.
Past Simple = completed action, shorter action, interruption.
- He called while I was taking a shower.

Quick Review

Form: was/were + verb(-ing).
Uses:
1. Action in progress at a specific time in the past.
2. Two actions happening at the same time.
3. Longer background action interrupted by a shorter Past Simple action.
4. Describing the scene or atmosphere.
Signal Words: while, when, at that moment, yesterday at (time).
Compare with Past Simple (continuous = background, simple = interruption).

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