Past Continuous Tense

1. Forms of the Past Continuous Tense

The Past Continuous Tense has three main forms: affirmative, negative, and interrogative.

A. Affirmative Form

Structure: Subject + was/were + base verb + -ing

• I was walking to the store.
• You were playing video games.
• He was studying for his exams.
• She was talking on the phone.
• It was raining heavily.
• We were traveling to Japan.
• You were listening to music.
• They were reading in the library.

B. Negative Form

Structure: Subject + was/were + not + base verb + -ing

• I was not walking to the store.
• You weren’t playing video games.
• He was not studying for his exams.
• She wasn’t talking on the phone.
• It was not raining heavily.
• We weren’t traveling to Japan.
• You weren’t listening to music.
• They were not reading in the library.

C. Interrogative Form

Structure: Was/Were + subject + base verb + -ing?

• Was I walking to the store?
• Were you playing video games?
• Was he studying for his exams?
• Was she talking on the phone?
• Was it raining heavily?
• Were we traveling to Japan?
• Were you listening to music?
• Were they reading in the library?

2. Usages of the Past Continuous Tense

A. Actions in Progress at a Specific Time

This tense is used to describe what was happening at a particular moment in the past.

• At 8 p.m., I was writing my report.
• At noon, he was playing video games.
• At that moment, she was talking on the phone.
• They were jogging in the park at 6 a.m.
• He was walking home at lunchtime.
• I was cooking dinner at 9 p.m.
• They were sleeping at midnight.
• She was studying for her exam in the afternoon.
• We were listening to the radio at 9 p.m.
• He was watching the sunrise early in the morning.

B. Interrupted Actions in the Past

This tense shows an ongoing action that was interrupted by another event.

• I was walking when it started to rain.
• She was reading when her phone rang.
• We were eating dinner when the lights went out.
• He was playing a game when his friends arrived.
• I was painting when the doorbell rang.
• They were relaxing when the storm began.
• We were watching a movie when the power went off.
• She was talking on the phone when her battery died.
• I was writing a letter when the dog started barking.
• He was walking his dog when he saw a friend.

C. Simultaneous Actions

This tense is used to describe two or more actions happening at the same time in the past.

• I was cooking while he was setting the table.
• She was watching TV while they were playing cards.
• We were listening to music while they were dancing.
• While she was writing notes, he was talking on the phone.
• I was studying while my roommate was reading.
• She was writing an essay while he was practicing guitar.
• They were painting while we were drawing.
• We were having lunch while they were making dinner.
• He was reading while she was knitting.
• While we were working, they were relaxing.

3. Time Indicators for the Past Continuous Tense

A. Using “At [Specific Time]”

“At” is used to indicate a specific moment in the past when an action was in progress.

• At 8 p.m yesterday, I was writing my report.
• At 7 p.m yesterday, we were watching a show.
• At noon, it was raining heavily.
• At 6 p.m., they were having dinner.
• At 5 p.m., he was walking home.
• At 10 a.m., she was studying in the library.
• At midnight, they were singing together.
• At 9 a.m., I was preparing for the meeting.
• At 6 a.m., we were jogging in the park.
• At 3 p.m., he was talking on the phone.

B. Using “While”

“While” is used to show two actions occurring at the same time.

• I was cooking while he was setting the table.
• She was watching TV while they were playing cards.
• We were listening to music while they were dancing.
• He was talking on the phone while she was writing notes.
• I was studying while my roommate was reading.
• She was writing an essay while he was practicing guitar.
• They were painting while we were drawing.
• We were having lunch while they were making dinner.
• He was reading while she was knitting.
• While we were working, they were relaxing.