Past Continuous: was/were + verb-ing

Past Continuous

When do we use the Past Continuous?

• An action in progress at a specific moment in the past
  • At 8pm last night, I was watching TV.
• A longer action interrupted by a shorter one (Past Simple)
  • She was cooking when the phone rang.
• Two actions happening at the same time in the past
  • He was reading while she was listening to music.
• Setting the background scene in a story
  • The sun was shining and the birds were singing.

Common time expressions

Structure

⚠️ Past Continuous vs Past Simple

• Past Continuous = longer background action (was reading)
• Past Simple = shorter completed action that interrupts (rang)
  • She was reading when the alarm rang.