Past continuous is a verb tense also called past progressive.  It
is used for continuous actions in the past.


STRUCTURE

Subject     +      Was/Were      +      Verb      +      ING

Examples:
  • I was sleeping.
  • They were dancing.


Past continuous is used to show an action that was continuing
in the past until another action interrupted it.  

The continuing action is past continuous and the interrupting
action is simple past.

Example:        
  • I was sleeping when you called me.       
      (The action of sleeping was continuing over time until   
        the telephone call interrupted the sleeping.)

Here are some more examples:

  • She was playing in the park when it started to rain.
  • While they were talking, the pizza arrived.
  • The car crashed when we were walking across the street.


An expression of time can be used as an interruption as well.
  • We were eating dinner at 4 o’clock.
  • At 6 o’clock we were still studying for our test.


Here are some more uses of the past continuous:


Parallel Actions
Past continuous is used to show two actions happening at the
same time in the past.

  • I was reading and he was watching TV.
  • While she was sleeping, Jack was doing his homework.

Notice the word "while" is often used in these situations:

  • While I was cleaning, she was watching television.
  • He was talking while she was studying.


Repetition in the Past
Past Continuous can also be used to show actions that
happened many times in the past.

  • He was always breaking something when he was a child.
  • I couldn't enjoy the movie because the people behind me
    were talking the whole time.


Here are some more tips for using the past continous:

Past continuous can often be used in the same places as
simple past.
  • Yesterday I read a book.
  • Yesterday I was reading a book.

Often it is determined by the question.
  • What were you doing yesterday?               I was reading.
  • What did you do yesterday?                        I read.


Remember that, just like present continuous, you cannot use
non-continuous verbs in continuous tenses.

INCORRECT
  • I was liking pizza when I was young.            
CORRECT                   
  • I liked pizza when I was young.             

INCORRECT
  • I was wanting to eat pizza yesterday.
CORRECT
  • I wanted to eat pizza yesterday.

For more information on stative verbs, try the stative/dynamic
verbs lesson.


     
past continuous
past continuous
Practice the past continuous with these exercises:

Past Continuous Lesson

Past Continuous Tests

Past Continuous Test
Past Continuous Test 2
Past Continuous vs. Simple Past Test

Past Continuous Listening

Jealous Guy - John Lennon

Past Continuous

Business English