Past Continuous
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The past continuous (was/were + -ing) describes an action in progress in the past that was interrupted by a shorter action. The longer action takes the past continuous; the interruption takes the past simple: 'I was reading when she called.'
Use 'while' before the long action and 'when' before the short one: 'While I was cooking, the dog ran outside.'
Ví dụ
I was reading when she called.
Long action (reading) interrupted by short (called).
While I was cooking, the dog ran outside.
'while' + past continuous, then past simple.
We were sleeping when the alarm went off.
were + -ing interrupted by 'went off'.
was reading
/wəz ˈriːdɪŋ/
I was reading when she called.
were sleeping
/wər ˈsliːpɪŋ/
We were sleeping when the alarm went off.
while I was cooking
/waɪl aɪ wəz ˈkʊkɪŋ/
While I was cooking, the dog ran outside.
was waiting
/wəz ˈweɪtɪŋ/
He was waiting at the station when it started raining.
Choose the correct forms: I ___ when she ___.
Past continuous of 'sleep': We ___ when the alarm went off. (we)
We use the past continuous to set the scene — to describe what was going on around the main events of a story: 'The sun was shining and the birds were singing.'
This paints a picture of ongoing activity, then the past simple usually brings in the main events.
Ví dụ
The sun was shining and birds were singing.
Setting the scene with ongoing actions.
Everyone was laughing and enjoying the meal.
Background atmosphere.
She was wearing a long red dress.
Describing an ongoing state in the past.
was shining
/wəz ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/
The sun was shining and birds were singing.
were laughing
/wər ˈlɑːfɪŋ/
Everyone was laughing and enjoying the meal.
was wearing
/wəz ˈweərɪŋ/
She was wearing a long red dress.
Choose the scene-setting form: The sun ___ as we arrived.
Past continuous of 'wear': She ___ a long red dress.
Two longer actions happening at the same time both take the past continuous, usually joined by 'while': 'I was watching TV while my brother was studying.'
This shows the two activities overlapping over a period, with neither interrupting the other.
Ví dụ
I was watching TV while my brother was studying.
Two long actions at once → both continuous.
They were talking while she was driving.
Overlapping ongoing actions.
He was cooking while I was setting the table.
Parallel activities joined by 'while'.
was watching
/wəz ˈwɒtʃɪŋ/
I was watching TV while my brother was studying.
were talking
/wər ˈtɔːkɪŋ/
They were talking while she was driving.
Choose the correct forms for two parallel actions: I ___ TV while my brother ___.
Past continuous of 'talk': They ___ while she was driving. (they)
Negatives add 'not' after was/were: 'I wasn't listening', 'They weren't paying attention.'
Questions put was/were before the subject: 'Was he working?' For wh- questions: 'What were you doing at 8 pm?'
Ví dụ
Sorry, I wasn't listening.
Negative: was + not + -ing.
What were you doing at 8 pm?
Wh-word + were + subject + -ing.
Was he working when you arrived?
Question: was before the subject.
wasn't listening
/ˈwɒzənt ˈlɪsənɪŋ/
Sorry, I wasn't listening.
weren't paying
/wɜːnt ˈpeɪɪŋ/
They weren't paying attention.
What were you
/wɒt wər juː/
What were you doing at 8 pm?
Was he working
/wəz hiː ˈwɜːkɪŋ/
Was he working when you arrived?
Choose the correct question: ___ you doing at 8 pm?
Negative of 'was listening': Sorry, I ___ listening. (short form)
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