Past continuous
Describe actions in progress in the past, set the scene of a story, and show interrupted actions: I was cooking when the phone rang.
In this lesson you will
- Form the past continuous
- Use it for background and actions in progress
- Combine it with the past simple using when and while
Learn
Form: was / were + -ing: I was reading. They weren’t listening. What were you doing at 8?
Actions in progress at a past time: At midnight I was still working. Background in stories: The sun was shining and people were sitting outside.
Interrupted actions: longer action (past continuous) + shorter action (past simple): I was having* a shower when the doorbell rang.*
while + two actions in progress together: While I was cooking, my brother was setting the table. State verbs aren’t used in the continuous.
Examples
- What were you doing when the lights went out?
- I was walking home when I saw the accident.
- While we were waiting, it started to rain.
- It was snowing and the streets were empty.
Vocabulary
interrupt
stop something happening for a moment
while
during the time that
background
the situation behind the main events
go out (lights)
stop working
set the table
put plates and cutlery on it
Practice
Complete the sentence.
Speaking
Say what you were doing at five different times yesterday (7 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm). Then describe a time something interrupted you.
Writing
Write the opening paragraph of a story (60–80 words) setting the scene with the past continuous, ending with an interruption in the past simple.
Lesson quiz
It ___ when we left the house.
Review
Key points
- was/were + -ing.
- Actions in progress and background.
- Long action (continuous) + short action (simple) with when/while.
What you learned
- ✓ I can use the past continuous.
- ✓ I can set the scene.
- ✓ I can describe interrupted actions.
Grammar reference: Past continuous