📘 Part of the Complete English Course · Elementary (A2), week 8
We use the past continuous (was / were + -ing) for an action in progress at a time in the past. It's often used with the past simple: I was cooking when the phone rang.
The rules
Form
| Subject | was / were | -ing | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / he / she / it | was | cooking | I was cooking dinner at 7. |
| you / we / they | were | waiting | We were waiting for a table. |
With the past simple
| Longer action (past continuous) | Short action (past simple) |
|---|---|
| I was walking home | when I saw the accident. |
| They were eating | when the waiter dropped the plates. |
Remember
- Use 'when' before the short action and 'while' before the longer action: While I was waiting, it started to rain.
- Questions: What were you doing at 8 pm? Negative: I wasn't listening.
- Don't use it with 'know', 'want', 'like': I wanted a table (not 'I was wanting').
Listen and repeat
- We were having dinner when the fire alarm went off.
- What were you doing when I called?
- While I was waiting, I read the menu.
- Sorry, I wasn't listening. Can you say that again?
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I was cooking dinner. | was + -ing. | |
| They were waiting. | they + were. | |
| While I was walking, I saw a friend. | Short action: past simple. |
Check yourself
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Frequently asked questions
When do we use Past continuous in English?
We use the past continuous (was / were + -ing) for an action in progress at a time in the past. It's often used with the past simple: I was cooking when the phone rang. Use 'when' before the short action and 'while' before the longer action: While I was waiting, it started to rain.
What are common mistakes with Past continuous?
Say 'I was cooking dinner.', not 'I was cook dinner.' (was + -ing). Say 'They were waiting.', not 'They was waiting.' (they + were). Say 'While I was walking, I saw a friend.', not 'When I was walking, I was seeing a friend.' (Short action: past simple).
What level is this Past continuous lesson?
It's a Elementary (A2) lesson, week 8 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.