PAST CONTINUOUS - USE

Use of the Past Continuous

• actions were in progress at special time in the past

Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.

• two actions were happening at the same time (the actions do not influence each other)

Anne was writing a letter while Steve was reading the New York Times.

• together with Simple Past

While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.

• repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew was always coming late.

2. Signal words

while

Form

to be (was, were) + infinitive + -ing

Examples

Positive sentences in the Past Continuous

Long forms	Contracted forms
I was playing football.	not possible
You were playing football.
He was playing football.

Negative sentences in the Past Continuous

Long forms	Contracted forms
I was not playing football.	I wasn't playing football.
You were not playing football.	You weren't playing football.
He was not playing football.	He wasn't playing football.

Questions in the Past Progressive

Long forms	Contracted forms
Was I playing football?	not possible
Were you playing football?
Was he playing football?