Advanced level: Past continuous tense 

In this lesson, we’ll look at the past continuous tense to learn how and when it is used. But first, we have to understand how to conjugate the past continuous. 

Form:

Was/were + present participle 

The past continuous is formed using was/were (auxiliary verb) with the present participle (of the main verb). 

We determine whether to use “were” or “was” depending on the pronoun. 

The structure when asking a question goes as follows: was/were + pronoun + present participle 

You werereading when I walked in. 

Were you studying when I called you? 

You were not working when I called you. 

The Past Continuous has 4 main uses/functions:

Use 1 – an interrupted action in the past

Here the Past Continuous is used to indicate a long action that was interrupted. Usually, the action that interrupts the long action is the Past Simple. 

Examples 

• I was studying when Danny called me. 
• She was answering an important e-mail when I interrupted her. 
• While I was jogging, it started raining. 
• What was he doing when you walked into the room? 
• John was waiting for us when we got off the train. 
• I broke my leg while I was skiing. 

Use 2 – parallel actions

The Past Continuous is used to indicate that two actions were happening at the same time; hence parallel actions. The conjunction “while” is frequently used to express this. 

• I was watching TV while the children were playing outside. 
• Were you listening while Kevin was explaining the new policy? 
• While Sarah was speaking to Fred, Peter was trying to get her attention. 
• What were they doing while you were working? 
• We were discussing the new project and having a good time as well. 

Use 3 – describing a mood/atmosphere

We can use the Past Continuous to describe several actions happening at the same time in order to describe the atmosphere or situation before or as a main action occurs. 

When I walked into the bar, Danny and Fred were arguing again. Chris was chatting to the barman with his usual pint. Peter and Sarah were flirting with each other, and Liz was telling the rest of the gang one of her outrageous stories about when she was an actress in the West End. The pub was already smelling of pub food and beer and I just felt that it was so good to be home. 

Use 4 – repetition – irritation with ‘always’

The Past Continuous with words such as ‘always’ or ‘constantly’ indicates something repeated or irritating. Words like ‘always’ should be placed between the auxiliary ‘be’ and the present participle. 

• She was alwayscoming late for meetings. No wonder she was never promoted. 
• He was alwaysboasting about his financial successes. It irritated us all no end. 
• I was constantlymisplacing my glasses. It’s not a problem with contacts now. 

While or when

Tip: With the Past Continuous sentences have clauses that start with ‘while’ or ‘when’. ‘While’ usually starts the clause with the Past Continuous, ‘when’ usually starts the clause with the Past Simple. 

It started raining while I was jogging.  / While I was jogging, it started raining. 

When it started raining, I was jogging. / I was jogging when it started raining. 

Notice that although the meaning of each pair of sentences is the same, ‘while’ or ‘when’ shift emphasis.