The Past Continuous tense expresses actions or situations that were ongoing at a particular moment in the past. It is often used to describe background events in a story, simultaneous actions, or to set the scene for another event.
- Describes actions “in progress” in the past
- Shows simultaneous or background actions
- Sets the scene for stories or events
Structure:
- (+) Subject + was/were + verb(-ing)
- (-) Subject + was/were + not + verb(-ing)
- (?) Was/Were + subject + verb(-ing)?
Examples:
- I was studying at 8 PM last night.
- They weren’t watching TV when I called.
- Was she driving to work during the storm?
Usage with Examples
1. Ongoing Action at a Specific Time
When you want to say that something was happening at a particular time in the past, use the past continuous.
- He was sleeping at midnight.
- We were eating dinner when the phone rang.
Correct: 'They were working at 3 PM.'
2. Parallel Actions
Use past continuous to describe two (or more) actions that were happening at the same time.
- While I was reading, she was listening to music.
- They were talking as the movie was starting.
Correct are the sentences with 'was/were + verb-ing' for both actions.
3. Background for Another Past Event
Past continuous is used to set the scene, while the simple past describes the event that interrupts.
- I was walking to school when I saw a dog.
- They were chatting when the teacher entered.
Correct: 'We were watching TV when the power went out.'
Past Continuous / Simple Past: Mixed Usage
| Situation | Background (Past Continuous) | Main Event (Simple Past) |
|---|---|---|
| Watching TV / Phone rings | We were watching TV | The phone rang |
| Studying / Dog barks | She was studying | The dog barked |
| Driving / Weather changes | They were driving | It started to rain |
- The teacher arrived (simple past) while we were talking (past continuous).
- I was doing (past continuous) my homework when the lights went out (simple past).
Correct pairs use (were eating, was reading) for background and (rang, called) for main event.
Conclusion
The Past Continuous tense is essential for describing actions in progress, setting scenes, and showing simultaneous activities in the past. Mastery of this tense enriches storytelling and clarifies the timing of events.
- Use for ongoing, simultaneous, or background actions in the past.
- Combine with Simple Past to show interrupted actions.
- Practice with real-life situations for fluency.