The Past Continuous Tense in English

The past continuous tense is a fundamental and very important tense for English exams. Therefore, to conquer these challenging tests, the most crucial thing is to understand the grammatical knowledge related to the past continuous tense. Let’s explore the definition, structure, usage, signs for identification, and exercises related to this tense together with PREP.

I. Definition of the Past Continuous Tense

Similar to the present continuous tense, the past continuous tense is used to describe an action or event that was happening around a specific moment in the past. For example:

For example:

• She was reading a book when the phone rang. 

• They were watching a movie when the lights went out. 

II. Structure of the Past Continuous Tense

The complete structure for all three forms of the past continuous tense is as follows:

2.1. Affirmative Form

Structure:

Subject + was/were + V-ing

For example: 

• I was sleeping when it started to rain last night. 

• They were playing video game at 8PM yesterday. 

2.2. Negative Form

Structure:

Subject + was/were + not + V-ing

For example:

• He wasn’t studying when his mom came home yesterday. 

• They weren’t working when their boss came in at 10AM yesterday. 

2.3. Interrogative Form

III. Usage of the Past Continuous Tense

Let's explore how to use the past continuous tense with PREP!

3.1. An action occurring at a specific time in the past

The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was happening at a specific moment in the past. For example:

• At nine o’clock yesterday, I was studying with my brother. 

• Jack was studying English with Anna at 9AM yesterday. 

3.2. An action in progress interrupted by another action

The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was ongoing when another action interrupted it. For example:

• I was talking to my mom when you called me. 

• I was cooking dinner when my mother did the laundry. 

3.3. Two actions occurring simultaneously in the past

The past continuous tense is used to describe two actions that were happening at the same time in the past. For example:

• I was reading my book while my friend was watching TV.

• Jack was playing game while his mother was cooking dinner. 

3.4. Note on usage

Do NOT use state verbs (e.g., want, like, love, understand, hate) in the past continuous tense. Instead, use the simple past tense. For example:

• I wanted to have a cat. ➡ ✅

• I was wanting to have a cat. ➡ ❌

IV. Signs for Identifying the Past Continuous Tense

Let’s explore the signs for recognizing the past continuous tense with PREP!

4.1. Presence of specific past time adverbs

You can easily identify the past continuous tense when the sentence includes specific adverbs indicating a definite time in the past.

• At + exact time + in the past (e.g., At 8 a.m. yesterday)

• At + this time + in the past (e.g., At this time three months ago)

• In + specific year (e.g., In 2004, In 2002)

• In the past

For example:

• She arrived at 3 PM yesterday. 

• At this time last year, I was living in Paris. 

• He graduated in 2010. 

• In the past, people wrote letters instead of sending emails. 

4.2. Presence of conjunctions like when/while/and

When conjunctions such as "when," "while," and "and" appear in a sentence, they indicate that actions are happening simultaneously, or that one action is ongoing while another interrupts.

• She was reading a book while her brother was playing video games. 

• They were talking and laughing when I walked in. 

V. Distinguishing Between Would V and Used to V

To diversify the use of the past tense, "Would V" and "Used to V" are extremely useful when you want to describe past habits.

Note: These refer to habits in the past that no longer exist.

VI. Passive Voice in the Past Continuous Tense

The passive voice in the past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was happening at a specific time in the past, but it emphasizes the object being affected by the action rather than the doer of the action.

Steps to Convert the Active Voice to the Passive Voice in the Past Continuous Tense:

• Identify the object of the active sentence and change it into the subject of the passive sentence.

• Use "was" or "were" based on the new subject.

• Add "being" after "was" or "were."

• Use the verb in the past participle form.

• Add the subject of the active sentence at the end of the passive sentence with the preposition "by" (if necessary).

VII. Distinguishing Between While and When in the Past Continuous Tense

Let's explore how to differentiate the usage of "While" and "When" in the past continuous tense!

VIII. Exercises on the Past Continuous Tense

To gain a better understanding of the past continuous tense, let’s complete the following exercises with PREP!

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Write the correct form of the verbs in parentheses to complete the sentences, using either the simple past or the past continuous tense.

1. I called Roger at nine last night, but he_________(not/be) at home. He_________(study) at the library.

2. When I_________(open) the cupboard door, a pile of books_________(fall) out.

3. How_________(you/ break) your arm?

4. I_________(slip) on the ice while I_________(cross) the street in front of the dorm.

5. We _________(drive) to London, but on the way we_________(hear) about a bomb scare in Oxford Street, so we _________(drive) back home straightaway.

Exercise 2: Write complete sentences using both the past continuous and simple past tense without changing the order of the given words.

1. When Don/ arrive/ we/ have/ coffee

2. He/ sit down/ on the chair/ while/ I/ paint/ it

3. When/ Margaret/ open/ the door/ the phone/ ring

4. The students/ play/ a game/ when/ professor/ arrive

2. Answer keys

This is an overview of the past continuous tense in English. PREP wishes you effective studying at home and success in achieving your goals for high scores!