English Grammar: Past Continuous Tense

Formation

• The Past Continuous tense is formed using the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were) and the present participle of the main verb (-ing form).
• Positive sentence structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing
• Negative sentence structure: Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing
• Question structure: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?

Uses

• To describe an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past:
  • I was studying when my friend called.
• To describe an action that was interrupted by another action:
  • I was watching TV when the power went out.
• To describe two or more simultaneous actions in the past:
  • She was cooking dinner while he was watching TV.
• To show that an action started before another action in the past and continued up to that point:
  • They were already eating when I arrived.

Time Expressions

• Common time expressions used with the Past Continuous tense:
  • at that moment
  • when
  • while
  • as
  • just then
  • at the same time
  • meanwhile

Formation of Past Continuous Tense

• Uses the past tense of "to be" (was/were) and the present participle of the main verb (-ing form)
• Positive sentence structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing
• Negative sentence structure: Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing
• Question structure: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?

Uses of Past Continuous Tense

• Describes an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past
  • Example: I was studying when my friend called
• Describes an action that was interrupted by another action
  • Example: I was watching TV when the power went out
• Describes two or more simultaneous actions in the past
  • Example: She was cooking dinner while he was watching TV
• Shows that an action started before another action in the past and continued up to that point
  • Example: They were already eating when I arrived

Time Expressions with Past Continuous Tense

• Common time expressions used with the Past Continuous tense:
  • at that moment
  • when
  • while
  • as
  • just then
  • at the same time
  • meanwhile