The document describes the past continuous tense, also known as the simple past continuous. It is formed using was/were + verbing to describe an action or process that was ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. It can be used to say an action was happening in a moment before now, was interrupted by another action, or could have been stopped by another event. Some examples are provided like "I was watching TV" and "While I was having a bath, the phone rang."

1. PAST CONTINUOUS
(SIMPLE)

2. SUBJECT
+
TO BE (PAST) + GERUND OF MAIN VERB
YOU/WE/THEY
I / HE / SHE / IT
+ WERE
+
….ING
+ WAS
+
…ING
We were studying when she called.
Were the soldiers sleeping when the bomb exploded?
I was not listening to the radio when mum arrived.

3. WE USE IT:
TO DESCRIBE A “LONG” ACTION OR “PROCESS “ IN A MOMENT BEFORE NOW
(IN THE PAST).
•WE CAN SAY IT WAS HAPPENING IN A MOMENT IN THE PAST.
Yesterday at 6 o’clock I was watching TV.
THE ACTION (PROCESS)STARTED BEFORE 6 o’clock BUT IT WAS NOT FINISHED.
The film started at 5 o’clock and finished at 6.30.
I was in the middle of the process of watching the film.
•WE CAN SAY THAT THE ACTION WAS INTERRUPTED BY ANOTHER SHORT
ACTION.
I was having a bath when the phone rang. or
WHILE + PAST CONTINUOUS
While I was having a bath, the phone rang. or
When the phone rang, I was having a bath. or
WHEN + PAST SIMPLE
The phone rang while I was having a bath.
•IT COULD STOP THE PROCESS . I had to leave my bath to answer the phone.
•(OR NOT). Mum answered the phone. I went on with my bath.