The Past Continuous Tense
We use the **past continuous** to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It often sets the scene or describes a longer action that was interrupted by a shorter one.
A Dialogue about Last Night
Alex: Hey Ben, I tried to call you around 8 PM last night. What were you doing?
Ben: Oh, sorry! I was watching a movie with my family. We didn't hear the phone.
Alex: No problem. So, what about your sister? Was she watching with you?
Ben: No, she was not studying. She was sleeping in her room. She had a long day.
Alex: That makes sense. I hope you all enjoyed the movie!
How to Form the Past Continuous
The structure is: Subject + was/were + verb-ing.
Affirmative (+)
I / He / She / It + was + verb-ing
You / We / They + were + verb-ing
Example: They were playing football.
Negative (-)
Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing
Example: He wasn't listening.
Interrogative (?)
Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?
Example: Were you watching TV?
Practice Time!
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the past continuous using the verb in parentheses.
Quick Summary
| Sentence Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Affirmative | I was reading. |
| Negative | We were not working. |
| Question | Were they listening? |