Past Continuous

We use the Past Continuous to talk about past actions in progress. The actions can also be interrupted by something (I was eating my breakfast when the telephone rang), plus there are several other uses.

I was jogging in the street when somebody stopped me and asked what time it was.

*events that were in progress when another event happened. We often use when to link these two events.

 

A rhinoceros was swatting flies with his tail when suddenly a fly bit him (Use 2)

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb + ing
I/a dog etc.		was/were		going/taking

At 3 p.m., I was having lunch (Use 1)
(the lunch started earlier than 3 p.m.)

They were talking about her when she walked into the room. (Use 2)

While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was washing the dishes. (Use 3)

We were all thinking about our holidays. (Use 1)

Shannon was filling in a questionnaire when the pen ran out of ink. (Use 2)

 

Yesterday at this time
Steven Seagal was riding a horse (Use 1)

 

John was smoking a cigarette when he saw a spider (Use 2)

 

 

Auxiliary verb	+	Subject	+	Verb + ing
was/were		I/a dog etc.		going/taking

Was she going to the theater when it started raining? (Use 2)

What were the defenders doing when Kenneth struck the ball? (Use 2)

Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 p.m.? (Use 1)

Was Mary shopping when the mall was burning ? (Use 3)

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb + not	+	Verb + ing
I/a dog etc.		wasn't/weren't		going/taking

He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel. (Use 1)

we weren't playing football when the earthquake began. (Use 2)

Exercises

Past Continuous or Simple

When or while

Past Simple or Past Continuous