Past Continuous

Compiled from Grammar Builder Book 3

The past continuous is:

Was/were        +       -ing

The rules of the Past Continuous:

1.    Used to show that an action was being carried out in the past.

• It was raining, so we didn’t go swimming.
• In 2008, I was working in Beijing.
• We were having dinner when my uncle called.
• Sam was playing computer games for more than 2 hours before dinner last night.
• It wasn’t raining this morning, so we went swimming.
• They weren’t watching television, so I turned it off.
• Kate wasn’t reading the papers, so Margaret borrowed it.

2. Used to show that two actions were going on at the same time in the past.
• While my brother was vacuuming the floor, I was tidying up the rooms.

3. To show that something happened while a longer action was going on:

    Longer action – use the past continuous

    Second action – use past simple

• I was taking a shower this morning when the phone rang.

The past continuous question is:

Was/were +      subject +   -ing

                Was                  James        working     yesterday?

Why          were                 they          shouting?

What         were                 you           doing         last night?

                Was                  Anna         crying        earlier on?

Important!

He/she/it/I         +      was           +      -ing

We/you/they      +      were         +      -ing