1. Past Continuous tense
It is used to express a continued or ongoing action in past, an ongoing action which occurred
in past and completed at some point in past. It expresses an ongoing nature of an action in
past. For example, “he was laughing.” This sentence shows ongoing action (laughing) of a
person which occurred in past. Past continuous tense is also called past progressive.
Rules: Auxiliary verb “was or were” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base verb + ing
(present participle) is used as main verb in sentence.
Structure of sentence
Positive sentences
• Subject + auxiliary verb + Main Verb (present participle) + object
• Subject + was/were + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
If the subject is “he, she, It, I, singular or proper noun” then auxiliary verb “was” is used. If
subject is “you, we, they or plural” then auxiliary verb “were” is used.
Examples.
She was crying yesterday.
They were climbing on a hill.
Negative sentences
• Subject + auxiliary verb + NOT + Main verb (present participle) + object
• Subject + was/were + NOT + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
Rules for using auxiliary verb after subject are same as mentioned above.
Examples.
She was not crying yesterday.
They were not climbing on a hill.
Interrogative sentences
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb (present participle) + object
• Was/were + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
The interrogative sentence starts with the auxiliary verb. If the subject is “he, she, It, I,
singular or proper noun” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “was”. If subject is “you,
we, they or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “were”.
Examples.
Was she crying yesterday?
Were they climbing on a hill?

2. More Examples
Positive sentences
They were laughing at the joker.
He was taking exam last month
You waiting for him yesterday
She was working in a factory.
It was raining yesterday.
Negative sentences
They were not laughing at the joker.
He was not taking exam last month
You were not waiting for him yesterday
She was not working in a factory.
It was not raining yesterday.
Interrogative sentences
Were they laughing at the joker?
Was he taking exam last month?
Were you waiting for him yesterday?
Was she working in a factory?
Was it raining yesterday?
Penggunaan dan Contoh Past Continuous Tense
Beberapa penggunaan dan contoh past continuous tense adalah sebagai berikut.
Fungsi Contoh Past Continuous Tense
Past continuous tense untuk
mengindikasikan suatu aksi yang terjadi
selama momen tertentu di masa lampau.
I was shopping at this time yesterday.
(Saya sedang belanja pada jam ini kemarin.)
What was she doing at 5 am this morning?
(Apa yang sedang dia lakukan jam 5 pagi ini?)
They were roasting corn at this time last night.
(Mereka sedang membakar jagung pada jam ini
kemarin malam.)
I was doing physically exercises all day yesterday.
(Saya sedang melakukan latihan-latihan fisik
sepanjang hari kemarin.)
Untuk menunjukkan bahwa ada aksi
berdurasi pendek (simple past tense)
yang terjadi ketika suatu aksi berdurasi
panjang (past continuous tense) sedang
berlangsung.
She was sleeping when you called her.
(Dia sedang tidur ketika kamu meneleponnya.)
The door was knocked while I was studying.
(Pintu diketuk ketika saya sedang belajar.)

3. Past continuous tense digunakan untuk
mengolok-olok atau mengkritik aksi yang
terjadi pada interval acak namun
sebenarnya merupakan kebiasaan alami.
The girl was always yelling out loud.
(Anak itu selalu menjerit keras-keras.)
My neighbor was always chasing stray cats off
with his broom.
(Tetangga saya selalu mengusir kucing-kucing liar
dengan sapunya.)