Past Continuous

The past continuous (also called the past progressive) describes actions that were in progress at a specific moment in the past. While the past simple tells us what happened, the past continuous tells us what was already happening — the background activity that was ongoing when something else occurred. It is essential for storytelling and giving context to past events.

• • Form: was/were + verb + -ing.
• • I, he, she, it → was. You, we, they → were.
• • Negatives: wasn't / weren't (no 'did' needed).
• • Questions: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing? (no 'did' needed).
• • Same spelling rules as present continuous for the -ing form: run → running, take → taking, lie → lying.

1. 1

   An action in progress at a specific moment in the past.

   "At 8pm last night, I was watching TV." / "What were you doing at midday?"

2. 2

   Background action interrupted by a shorter past simple event (often with when/while).

   "I was cooking dinner when she called." / "While they were talking, the lights went out."

3. 3

   Two actions happening simultaneously in the past.

   "While he was reading, she was writing." / "They were laughing while we were struggling."

4. 4

   Setting the scene in a narrative (providing background).

   "The sun was setting. Birds were singing. Everything felt calm — and then the phone rang."

5. 5

   Gradually changing situations in the past.

   "The crowd was growing. Traffic was getting worse by the minute."

• Past continuous = was/were + verb-ing.
• Use it for actions in progress at a past time.
• Use with 'when' (interruption) or 'while' (simultaneous/background).
• Past simple interrupts past continuous: 'I was walking when it started to rain.'
• Two simultaneous past actions: 'While I was cooking, he was setting the table.'
• Stative verbs (know, want, like) don't work in continuous forms.

A couple describing what they were doing when the power cut happened.