Past Continuous Tense: Definition, Useful Rules and Examples • 7ESL

Contents

The Past Continuous Tense is important for describing actions that were ongoing in the past. This reference covers key sections, including its definition, structure, examples, and usage. You’ll also find details on time expressions and a chart for visual understanding.

Definition and Structure of Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense describes actions that were ongoing in the past and often sets the scene for other actions.

Forming the Past Continuous

To form the past continuous tense, use the past tense of the verb to be (was/were) followed by the base verb + -ing.

Examples:

She was walking to school.
They were playing soccer.

Structure:

Subject	was/were	Verb + -ing
I	was	walking
You	were	playing
He/She/It	was	reading
We/They	were	studying

This structure helps to show that an action was in progress at a specific time in the past.

Common Time Expressions

Common time expressions used with the past continuous tense include: at [specific time], while, when, all day, and all night.

Examples:

At 5 PM, she was doing her homework.
While he was cooking, the phone rang.
They were driving all night.

These time expressions indicate the duration or timing of the past actions, making the context clear.

Usage of Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense helps describe actions that were happening over time in the past. It is often used to show interrupted actions, set the background, indicate parallel actions, and express actions in progress at a specific moment.

Describing Interrupted Actions

The past continuous tense can describe an action that was ongoing when another action occurred. For example, “She was reading a book when the phone rang.” Here, “was reading” shows the continuous activity, and “rang” is the interruption.

Typically, the past continuous phrase is formed using “was” or “were” + the verb’s present participle (ending in -ing).

Example:

They were playing soccer when it started raining.

Setting the Background

The past continuous tense often sets the scene in stories or conversations. It paints a picture of what was happening at a certain time.

For instance, “The sun was setting, and birds were chirping.” Both actions set the mood and describe the background of the scene.

It gives a sense of atmosphere, indicating what was ongoing during the period being discussed or narrated.

Indicating Parallel Actions

Two actions happening simultaneously in the past can be described using past continuous tense for both activities.

Example:

She was cooking while he was watching TV.

Using “was” or “were” + verb-ing for both actions shows their parallel occurrence. This helps readers or listeners understand that both activities were ongoing at the same time.

Expressing Actions in Progress at a Specific Moment

Sometimes, the past continuous tense describes what was happening at a specific time point in the past.

For instance, “At 7 PM, they were eating dinner.” The sentence indicates that the action (“were eating”) was in progress at 7 PM.

This usage specifies the exact moment the action was taking place, helping to pinpoint when it occurred within the past timeline.

Key Signal Words and Phrases

In the past continuous tense, some words and phrases commonly indicate the use of this tense. These words help signal actions that were ongoing in the past.

Examples of Common Signal Words

Words like “while” and “when” are often used with the past continuous tense. For example, “She was reading while he was cooking.”

Phrases such as “at that moment” or “at the same time” can highlight simultaneous actions. For example, “At that moment, they were arriving at the station.”

Words indicating a specific time, like “yesterday evening” or “last night,” can also be used. For instance, “Yesterday evening, they were working on the project.”

Other signal words include “constantly,” “always,” and “continually.” For example, “He was always talking during class.”

Negative Statements in Past Continuous Tense

Negative statements in the past continuous tense describe actions that were not happening at specific moments in the past. It’s important to know the structure of these sentences to use them correctly.

Structure of Negative Sentences

To make negative statements in the past continuous tense, use the formula: subject + was/were + not + verb (-ing).

Examples:

He was not watching TV.
They were not playing outside.

In these examples, “was” or “were” gets a “not” right after, and the main verb uses the -ing form. This provides clarity about what was not happening at a given time.

Interrogative Form of Past Continuous Tense

In the past continuous tense, questions can be formed to find out what someone was doing at a specific time in the past. These questions can either be yes-no questions or wh-questions.

Yes-No Questions

Yes-no questions in the past continuous tense are used to confirm details about actions that were ongoing in the past. To form these questions, swap the subject and the auxiliary verb “was” or “were”.

Structure: Was/Were + subject + verb(-ing)?
Example: Was she reading a book?

In the example, “Was” is the auxiliary verb, “she” is the subject, and “reading” is the main verb in the -ing form. A yes-no question expects a simple “yes” or “no” response. These questions are typically used to check if something was happening during a certain time.

Wh-Questions

Wh-questions in the past continuous tense ask for specific information about ongoing actions or events in the past. These begin with question words like “what,” “where,” “why,” “when,” “who,” or “how”.

Structure: Question word + was/were + subject + verb(-ing)?
Example: What were they doing at 8 PM yesterday?

Here, “What” is the question word, “were” is the auxiliary verb, “they” is the subject, and “doing” is the main verb in the -ing form. Wh-questions require more detailed answers and provide more information about the action that was happening.

Past Continuous Tense Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the past continuous tense.

He _______ (read) a book when she called.
They _______ (play) soccer at 5 PM yesterday.
She _______ (not watch) TV when the power went out.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct past continuous form.

What _______ (he do / was he doing) when the phone rang?
They _______ (were having / was having) dinner when I arrived.
_______ (Was it raining / Were it raining) when you left?

Transformation

Turn the following sentences into past continuous tense.

She studies for the exam.
She was studying for the exam.
They walk in the park.
They were walking in the park.

Match the Sentence

Match the sentence with its correct form of the past continuous tense.

No.	Sentence	Form
1	He (sleep) during the meeting.	He was sleeping during the meeting.
2	We (travel) to Paris in June.	We were traveling to Paris in June.
3	They (swim) in the pool at 3 PM.	They were swimming in the pool at 3 PM.