The document describes the past continuous tense in English. It is used to describe actions that were ongoing or happening at a specific time in the past. It is formed using was/were + the present participle (-ing form) of the verb. The past continuous is used to talk about background actions that were interrupted by other events in the past or actions that occurred simultaneously. Examples are provided to illustrate the difference between the simple past and past continuous tenses. The document also provides instructions on forming questions and negatives in the past continuous as well as exercises for the reader to practice using the tense.

1. Past continuous
We use past continuous
- for actions that lasted for some time in the past: I was playing with my sister all
afternoon
- for actions that were happening at the same time in the past: While I was
reading, my mother was cooking
-for actions that were interrupted in the past: As I was jogging, someone stopped
me to ask for directions
-when describing something that happened in the past, or telling a story: When the
teacher walked into the classroom some of the pupils were chasing each other and
some others were drawing on the board!
To form the past continuous tense:
Positives:
-We use was/were + verb infinitive + -ing (visit/was visiting, frown/was frowning,
warn/was warning, punish/was punishing)
Negatives:
-We use was not/were not + verb infinitive + -ing (visit/was not visiting,
frown/was not frowning, warn/was not warning, punish/was not punishing)
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or
finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
 Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I STARTED EATING AT 6 PM.
 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I STARTED EARLIER; AND AT 6 PM, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER.

2. -If a verb ends in –e, we replace it with the ending –ing (giggle/giggling,
gaze/gazing, move/moving, smile/smiling, bake/baking)
-If a verb ends in –y, we just add the ending –ing (cry/crying, fry/frying,
try/trying, carry/carrying, play/playing)
Sometimes, if the verb ends in a consonant, we must double it before adding the
ending -ing
(travel/travelling, stop/stopping, sob/sobbing, admit/admitting)
Key Words:
 while
 as
 when

3. Forming questions:
WAS/WERE
+
Subject
+
Verb (continuous form)
e.g. he, she, a dog, etc. e.g. walking, going, taking, etc.
-Was she shopping when she lost her purse?
-Was it raining when you were jogging?
-Were they playing all afternoon?
Forming negatives:
Subject
+
WASN'T / WEREN'T
+
Verb (continuous form)
e.g. he, she, a dog, etc. e.g. walking, going, taking, etc.
-They weren’t looking while they crossed the street.
-The student wasn’t listening while the teacher was speaking.
-She wasn’t running when she fell.

4. Sleep
Past Continuous Positive
I __was sleeping______ We___were sleeping____
You _____________________ They___________________
He/she/it_________________
Past Continuous Negative
I __wasn’t sleeping____ We__weren’t sleeping____
You _____________________ They_____________________
He/she/it_________________

5. Do the same with the verbs:
eat
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
pray
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________,

6. love
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
travel
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________

7. Homework
Put the verbs into the correct form (past continuous)
Exercise 1.
1. When I phoned my friends, they (play)
w ere playing
monopoly.
2. Yesterday at six I (prepare) dinner.
3. The kids (play) in the garden when it suddenly began to rain.
4. I (practice) the guitar when he came home.
5. We (not / cycle) all day.
6. While Aaron (work) in his room, his friends (swim) in the
pool.
7. I tried to tell them the truth but they (listen / not) .
8. What (you / do) yesterday?
9. Yesterday morning we (sit) in the park.

8. Put the verbs into the correct form (past continuous).
Exercise 2
I. letters all day yesterday. (write)
2 . You very slow about it. (be)
3. You on the phone for hours and hours. (talk)
4. They much business before lunch. (do NEGATIVE)
5. She to me all week. Silly cow. (speak NEGATIVE)
6. It for long. (rain NEGATIVE)
7. What you when I phoned yesterday? (do)
8. you TV when it happened? (watch)
9. What you at the party? (wear)
10. He horrible to everyone, the nasty pig! (be)