The past continuous describes an action that was in progress at a time in the past. It shows that the action started before that past moment and continued during it. It helps place an action on a past timeline.

The past continuous is formed with was or were and the -ing form of the main verb. Use was with singular subjects I, he, she, and it. Use were with plural subjects you, we, and they.

Subject	Form
I	was + verb-ing
he	was + verb-ing
she	was + verb-ing
it	was + verb-ing
you	were + verb-ing
we	were + verb-ing
they	were + verb-ing

To make the -ing form, add -ing to the verb. Some verbs change spelling before adding -ing. Short verbs with one vowel and one final consonant often double the final consonant.

Verb	Form
work	working
make	making
run	running
sit	sitting

Use the past continuous for an action that was already happening at a specific time in the past. The specific time can be a clock time or another clear past moment. The focus is the action in progress, not its beginning or end.

Word or Phrase	Definition
at five o'clock	It shows a specific time in the past when the action was in progress.
at that moment	It shows one clear past moment during the action.
at the time	It points to the time when the action was happening in the past.

The past continuous can show a longer past action that was in progress when another past action happened. The action in progress is the background action on the timeline. The other action interrupts it.

The past continuous often appears with time expressions that connect past actions. When can point to the moment another action happened. While shows that two actions were happening at the same time. At the time points to a past moment or situation.

Word or Phrase	Definition
when	It introduces the past moment when another action happened.
while	It shows that actions were happening at the same time.
at the time	It refers to the past moment or situation during an action in progress.

You can now use the past continuous to describe actions in progress in the past and place them on a timeline. You can form it with was or were plus the -ing form, choose the correct subject form, and use time expressions like when, while, and at the time. You can also show a longer past action that another action interrupted.