PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Past Continuous Tense is used to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

1. I was watching TV when she called.

2. When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

3. While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.

4. What were you doing when the earthquake started?

The Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

1. Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

2. At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.

3. Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

1. I was studying while he was making dinner.

2. While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

3. Were you listening while he was talking?

4. I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.

5. What were you doing while you were waiting?

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE POSITIVE FORM

Making the Present Continuous tense with the correct form of the verb to be (was/were) and the ing form of the main verb.

Examples:

I was walking down the street when the rain began.

We were studying under the tree yesterday.

He was watching TV when his mother came in.

It was barking when I passed by.

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE NEGATIVE FORM

Making the past continuous tense by adding NOT after to be (was and were).

Examples:

They were talking with their friends when I came,

becomes:

They were not talking with their friends when I came.

Another examples:

1. I was not watching TV when she called.

2. When the phone rang, she was not writing a letter.

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE QUESTION FORM

Making past continuous tense by moving to be: was and were in the beginning of the sentence before subject.

1. Was I singing?

2. Were you singing?

3. Were we singing?

4. Were they singing