Past Continuous Tense

Usage of Past Continuous Tense

General Rules of Past Continuous Tense

Helping Verbs of Past Continuous Tense

“Was” as Helping Verb in Past Continuous Tense

Examples of “Was” as Helping Verb in Past Continuous Tense

1. I was reading a novel last night.
2. He was playing football in the ground.
3. She was cooking dinner when I arrived.
4. It was raining heavily in the morning.
5. The baby was crying for milk.
6. I was not watching TV at that time.
7. He wasn’t studying for the exam.
8. She was not listening to music.
9. It wasn’t working properly.
10. The teacher was not writing on the board.
11. Was I disturbing you?
12. Was he driving fast?
13. Was she talking to you?
14. Was it making a noise?
15. Was the boy crying?

“Were” as Helping Verb in Past Continuous Tense

Examples of “Were” as Helping Verb in Past Continuous Tense

1. They were playing football in the ground.
2. We were watching a movie last night.
3. You were helping your friend with homework.
4. The children were shouting loudly.
5. The workers were repairing the road.
6. They were not playing in the park.
7. We were not watching TV.
8. You were not helping me.
9. The students were not listening to the teacher.
10. The boys were not doing their homework.
11. Were they playing cricket?
12. Were we doing the right thing?
13. Were you listening to music?
14. Were the girls studying for the exam?
15. Were the dogs barking all night?
16. Were they not playing outside?
17. Were you not helping her?
18. Were we not waiting for the bus?
19. Were the kids not sleeping?
20. Were the teachers not discussing the plan?

Formula for Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

Formula for Declarative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

Examples of Declarative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

1. She was reading a novel when I entered the room.
2. I was cooking dinner at 7 p.m. last night.
3. He was watching TV while his sister did homework.
4. The baby was sleeping peacefully.
5. My friend was waiting for the bus in the rain.
6. They were playing football in the park.
7. We were studying for the exam together.
8. The children were laughing at the clown.
9. You were driving too fast on that road.
10. The workers were repairing the road when the rain started.

Formula for Negative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

Examples of Negative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

1. She was not cooking dinner when I arrived.
2. He was not watching TV last night.
3. I was not reading a book at that time.
4. The baby was not sleeping peacefully.
5. It was not raining in the morning.
6. They were not playing football in the park.
7. We were not studying for the test yesterday.
8. You were not listening to the teacher.
9. The children were not shouting in the class.
10. My friends were not waiting for me at the station.

Formula for Interrogative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

Examples of Interrogative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

Yes/No Questions

1. Was she reading a book last night?
2. Were they playing football when you arrived?
3. Was it raining in the morning?
4. Were you sleeping at 10 p.m. yesterday?
5. Was I disturbing you during your meeting?
6. Were we talking too loudly?
7. Was he watching a movie when the lights went out?
8. Were the kids making noise during the class?
9. Was the teacher explaining the topic clearly?
10. Were the students writing notes at that time?

Wh- Questions (What/When/Where/Why/Which/Who)

1. What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night?
2. Where was she going when you saw her?
3. Why were they shouting in the street?
4. Who was making that noise?
5. When were you planning to call me?
6. What was he saying during the meeting?
7. Which book were you reading yesterday?
8. Whom were they meeting in the park?
9. How was she handling the situation?
10. Why were we waiting outside so long?

Formula for Interrogative-Negative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

Examples of Interrogative-Negative Sentences of Past Continuous Tense

Yes/No Questions

1. Was he not studying for the exam?
2. Was she not cooking dinner when I called?
3. Was it not raining in the morning?
4. Was the teacher not teaching at 9 PM?
5. Was your brother not watching TV last night?
6. Were they not playing football yesterday?
7. Were you not working late last night?
8. Were we not talking about the same topic?
9. Were the kids not sleeping at that time?
10. Were my parents not planning a trip then?

Wh- Questions (What/When/Where/Why/Which/Who)

1. Why was he not doing his homework?
2. What was she not telling you?
3. Why was it not working properly?
4. Where was your friend not going?
5. When was the baby not crying?
6. Why were they not attending the meeting?
7. What were you not saying to her?
8. Where were we not going last weekend?
9. Why were the students not listening in class?
10. When were your parents not helping you?

Double Sentences

Past Continuous + Simple Past

1. She was cooking dinner when the guests arrived.
2. I was reading a book while he watched TV.
3. They were playing football when it suddenly started to rain.
4. We were studying when the lights went out.
5. He was walking home when he saw an accident.

Past Continuous + Past Perfect

1. I was feeling sick because I had eaten too much.
2. She was crying because she had lost her phone.
3. They were resting after they had completed the project.
4. We were discussing the issue which we had faced last week.
5. He was driving a car that he had borrowed from his friend.

Past Continuous + Simple Present

1. I was studying when my mom calls me every hour.
2. He was watching TV while his sister does her homework.
3. They were talking about a topic that still exists today.
4. She was dancing as the teacher comes in.
5. We were playing outside while dad fixes the car.

Past Continuous + Present Perfect

1. I was sleeping because I have worked all night.
2. She was smiling as if she has received some good news.
3. We were planning a trip, but now we have decided to cancel it.
4. He was writing the report that he has already submitted.
5. They were talking about the movie they have just watched.

Past Continuous + Future (Will/Shall)

1. He was thinking he will go to London next week.
2. I was hoping that she will agree to the plan.
3. They were preparing because they will perform tomorrow.
4. She was praying that everything will be fine.
5. We were discussing what we will do if it rains.

Past Continuous + Future (Going to)

1. I was packing because I was going to travel the next day.
2. She was crying because she was going to leave her home.
3. They were laughing about something they were going to post online.
4. We were planning how we were going to decorate the hall.
5. He was preparing because he was going to propose.