Past Continuous

Use of the Past Continuous:

We use the Past Continuous, to give a duration to an action in the past, or when one action interrupts another action in the past. But the primary function of the Past Continuous is that it gives a description/narrative of a past event.

actions that were in progress at a specif time in the past

Peter was watching a TV yesterday evening.

  • actions that had a duration in the past

yesterday evening at 9.00 o’clock I was reading the newspaper

  • two actions in the past that were happening at the same time

 Susan was listening to the radio while Alex was reading the Guardian.

together with Simple Past

While we were walking in the park, the telephone rang.

  • past repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Jim was always arriving late for the meetings.

Key words

  • While
  • Before
  • When
  • After

Form

auxiliary in the past of to be was/were+ infinitive + ing

Note important! Some verbs are not normally used in Continuous form i.e. know, want, love,need, prefer etc. (for further reference see Present Continuous).

Affirmative form

Long formsContracted forms
I was reading a book.not possible
You were reading a book.
He was reading a book.

Negative form

Long formsContracted forms
I was not  reading a book when the phone rang.I wasn’t reading a book when the phone rang.
You were not reading a book when the phone rang.You weren’t reading a book when the phone rang.
He was not reading a book when the phone rang.He wasn’t reading a book when the phone rang.

Interrogative form

Long formsContracted forms
Was I watching TV?not possible
Were you watching TV when the phone rang?
Was he  watching TV when the phone rang?