What is the Past Continuous Tense?

The past continuous tense describes an action that was happening at a particular time in the past. This means the action started earlier and continued for a while before stopping. We use this tense when we want to talk about something that was happening at a specific moment in the past.

For example:

• I was reading a book when my friend called me.
• They were playing football at 4 PM yesterday.

These sentences show that the action was ongoing at a particular time in the past.

Rules for Using the Past Continuous Tense

To form the past continuous tense, follow these rules:

1. Use “was” or “were” based on the subject:

• Use was with I, he, she, it, and singular nouns.
• Use were with you, we, they, and plural nouns.

2. Add the main verb with -ing.

3. Add extra details if needed.

Formula:

Subject + was/were + verb-ing + extra information

Examples:

• She was watching TV when I arrived.
• We were studying for the test last night.

Structure of the Past Continuous Tense

Type of Sentence	Formula	Example
Affirmative (Positive)	Subject + was/were + verb-ing	He was cooking dinner.
Negative	Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing	She was not writing a letter.
Interrogative (Question)	Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?	Was he sleeping at that time?
Interrogative Negative	Was/Were + subject + not + verb-ing?	Were they not listening to music?

When to Use the Past Continuous Tense?

1. To describe an action happening at a specific time in the past

Example: At 9 AM yesterday, I was traveling to work.

2. To show two actions happening at the same time in the past

Example: While they were dancing, we were singing.

3. To describe an interrupted action in the past

Example: He was driving when it started raining.

4. To show repeated past actions that were annoying

Example: She was always talking in class.

Examples 

1. The teacher was explaining the lesson when the bell rang.
2. I was doing my homework when my mother called me.
3. They were running in the park when it started raining.
4. The kids were playing outside all afternoon.
5. We were watching a movie when the lights went off.
6. He was writing an email when his computer crashed.
7. The baby was crying when her mother entered the room.
8. My parents were cooking dinner while I was studying.
9. The dog was barking loudly last night.
10. She was painting a picture when her phone rang.

Exercise on Past Continuous Tense

Convert the following sentences into the past continuous tense:

1. Rahul eats lunch.
2. We listen to music.
3. The baby cries all night.
4. She finishes her homework.
5. They play in the garden.
6. I write a story.
7. The chef cooks a delicious meal.
8. He reads a newspaper.
9. The workers build a house.
10. My sister dances at the party.

Answers:

1. Rahul was eating lunch.
2. We were listening to music.
3. The baby was crying all night.
4. She was finishing her homework.
5. They were playing in the garden.
6. I was writing a story.
7. The chef was cooking a delicious meal.
8. He was reading a newspaper.
9. The workers were building a house.
10. My sister was dancing at the party.

Speak English Fluently in 90 Days!

Unlock your potential with Aditya Sir’s transformative English-speaking course. Gain confidence, fluency, and the skills you need to excel. Start your journey today!

Join Now

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q1. What is the past continuous tense?

The past continuous tense is used to talk about actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.

Q2. How do we form the past continuous tense?

We use was/were + verb-ing.

Example: I was reading a book when the phone rang.

Q3. What are the rules for using the past continuous tense?

• Use was with I, he, she, it.
• Use were with you, we, they.
• Add -ing to the main verb.

Q4. How do we use the past continuous tense with another past action?

When one action interrupts another, we use the past simple for the short action and the past continuous tense for the longer action.

Example: She was cooking when the phone rang.

Q5. Give more examples of the past continuous tense?

1. While we were watching TV, my brother was playing video games.
2. She was sleeping when I knocked on the door.
3. They were dancing when the music stopped.