TENSES → PAST CONTINUOUS · RULE 05
Past Continuous
An action in progress at a moment in the past. Often it is the background for a shorter action.
FORMULA
was / were + V-ing
ALL EVENING
she was cooking
8 PM
✕
he called
NOW
both are over
THE THREE FORMS
+
She was cooking at eight.
was / were + V-ing
−
They weren't sleeping.
wasn't / weren't + V-ing
?
Was she cooking when he called?
Was + subject + V-ing
was — I, he, she, it. were — you, we, they. Then just add -ing.
THE CLASSIC PAIR
long action → Past ContinuousShe was cooking…
short action → Past Simple…when he called.
two long actions → whileWhile I was reading, she was drawing.
WAS OR WERE?
I / he / she / itwas
you / we / theywere
there + one thingThere was a noise.
there + many thingsThere were two calls.
SIGNAL WORDSat 8 pm yesterdaywhilewhenall dayall evening
COMMON MISTAKES