The Past Continuous
We use the Past Continuous to talk about an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.
A: What were you doing last night at 9 o’clock?
B: I was watching a movie on TV.
In this example, the speaker was in the middle of watching a movie at exactly 9 p.m. last night.
Forms of the Past Continuous (was/were + v-ing)
Below, you can see different forms of the Past Continuous tense for the main verb “work”:
POSITIVE STATEMENTS
I was working ...
You were working ...
He was working ...
She was working ...
It was working ...
We were working ...
You were working ...
They were working ...
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
I was not / wasn't working ...
You were not / weren't working ...
He was not / wasn't working ...
She was not / wasn't working ...
It was not / wasn't working ...
We were not / weren't working ...
You were not / weren't working ...
They were not / weren't working ...
POSITIVE QUESTIONS
Was I working ...?
Were you working ...?
Was he working ...?
Was she working ...?
Was it working ...?
Were we working ...?
Were you working ...?
Were they working ...?
NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
Was I not / Wasn't I working ...?
Were you not / Weren't you working ...?
Was he not / Wasn't he working ...?
Was she not / Wasn't she working ...?
Was it not / Wasn't it working ...?
Were we not / Weren't we working ...?
Were you not / Weren't you working ...?
Were they not / Weren't they working ...?
SHORT ANSWERS
Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't.
Yes, you were. / No, you weren't.
Yes, he was. / No, he wasn't.
Yes, she was. / No, she wasn't.
Yes, it was. / No, it wasn't.
Yes, we were. / No, we weren't.
Yes, you were. / No, you weren't.
Yes, they were. / No, they weren't.
As you can see, we use the auxiliary verbs "was" and "were" to make negative sentences and questions in the Past Continuous tense.
She was sleeping.
She was not / wasn't sleeping.
Was she sleeping?
Was she not / Wasn't she sleeping?
Yes, she was. / No, she wasn't.
They were watching TV.
They were not / weren't watching TV.
Were they watching TV?
Were they not / Weren't they watching TV?
Yes, they were. / No, they weren't.
Past Continuous & Past Simple
The Past Continuous is often used together with the Past Simple in the same sentence. In these situations the Past Continuous describes a longer action that was happening in the past. The Simple Past describes a shorter action that happened in the middle of the longer one.
We were having lunch when he arrived.
I was taking a shower when the electricity went off.
Some verbs are called state verbs (or non-action verbs), such as know, need, want, like, love, hate, belong, believe etc. These verbs are not usually used in continuous tenses, including the Past Continuous.
Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the Past Simple or Past Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1.My knee hurts a lot. I ____ (fall) while I ____ (run) to catch the bus.
My knee hurts a lot. I fell while I was running to catch the bus.
2.We ____ (watch) TV when the lights ____ (go) out.
We were watching TV when the lights went out.
3.They ____ (not hear) the phone because they ____ (talk) loudly.
They didn't hear the phone because they were talking loudly.
4.He ____ (break) the glass while he ____ (wash) the dishes.
He broke the glass while he was washing the dishes.
5.I ____ (read) a book when the doorbell ____ (ring).
I was reading a book when the doorbell rang.
6.The students ____ (take) an exam when the fire alarm ____ (start).
The students were taking an exam when the fire alarm started.
7.We ____ (not go) outside because it ____ (rain).
We didn't go outside because it was raining.
8.She ____ (drop) her keys while she ____ (look) for her purse.
She dropped her keys while she was looking for her purse.