The past continuous tense describes an action that was ongoing at a specific moment in the past. It sets the background for another past event or shows that an action was in progress over a period of time in the past. It often answers the question what was happening at that time.

The past continuous is formed with a past tense form of be plus a main verb with ing. In statements, the typical word order is subject was or were verb ing. The verb ing form does not change for person or number within the same construction.

Rule
Use was with singular subjects and I in the past continuous.
Use were with plural subjects and you in the past continuous.
Place the main verb in the ing form after was or were.

In affirmative sentences, the structure is subject was or were verb ing. The auxiliary be expresses past time and continuous aspect. The main verb ing shows the ongoing action.

Subject	Form
I	was walking
He she it	was walking
You	were walking
We	were walking
They	were walking

In negative sentences, not is added after was or were. The structure is subject was or were not verb ing. Was not and were not can be contracted to wasn't and weren't in informal writing and speech.

Rule
Add not after was or were to make the past continuous negative.
Use wasn't as a contraction of was not in informal contexts.
Use weren't as a contraction of were not in informal contexts.

In questions, was or were comes before the subject. The structure is was or were subject verb ing. Short answers repeat was or were without the main verb.

Rule
Place was or were before the subject to form a yes no question.
Keep the verb ing after the subject in a question.
Use was or were alone in short answers to past continuous questions.

The past continuous is used for actions in progress at a specific past time and for background actions interrupted by another event. It can also show two past actions happening at the same time, often with while. It does not usually describe completed events by itself.

Rule
Use the past continuous for an action that was in progress at a past time.
Use the past continuous for a background action when another event interrupts it.
Use the past continuous for two simultaneous past actions, often with while.

Certain time expressions commonly appear with the past continuous to specify when the action was ongoing. These markers help identify the reference time for the ongoing action. They often answer when or at what time in the past.

Word/Phrase	Definition
at 7 o'clock	This sets a specific past time when an action was in progress.
yesterday at this time	This refers to a matching time on the previous day as a reference point.
all day	This indicates a duration in the past when an action continued.
while	This introduces another ongoing action in the past.
when	This often introduces a past event that interrupts an ongoing action.

The ing form is used after was or were in the past continuous. Regular verbs add ing to the base form. Spelling rules apply to verbs ending in e, verbs ending in ie, and certain one-syllable verbs.

Rule
Drop a final silent e and add ing for verbs like drive or write.
Change ie to y and add ing for verbs like lie or die.
Double the final consonant and add ing in one-syllable verbs ending consonant vowel consonant, like sit or run.

The past continuous describes ongoing actions in the past using was or were plus verb ing. It is used for actions in progress at a specific past time, background actions, and simultaneous actions. Time markers and correct verb ing spelling support accurate use.