Section outline

  • Past Continuous / Past Progressive Tense refers to actions happening at fixed time in the past.

    To form past continuous tense:

    Type of sentence Verb Examples
    Affirmative was / were + present participle He was going to the party.
    The boys were playing football.
    Negative wasn't / weren't + present participle I wasn't playing football.
    We weren't playing in the garden.
    Interrogative was / were + subject + present participle Was it raining yesterday?
    Weren’t you going to the party?

    For more information on present participle, click here.

    Use:

    To express Examples
    An action that was continuing in the past. The choir was singing carols.
    Background of story written in the past tense. When it was getting dark, the lion came. 
    Unfinished action that was interrupted. We were walking when it started to rain.
    Change of mind that happened in the past. They were fighting but then they decided to stop.
    Two actions going on at the same time in the past. Jack was playing while Tom was cycling.
    Request using the word ‘wonder’. I was wondering if we could go out.
    Actions repeatedly happening in the past. She was always talking in the class.