The past continuous is used to express :
1 - an activity in progress at a point in the past:
ex : I was watching T.V at 7 o'clock yesterday evening.
I was doing my homework while my brother was playing computer games.
2 - an interrupted past activity:
ex : I was having a bath when the phone rang
3 - an uncomplete activity in the past:
ex : I was reading a book (but I didn't finish it).
(See the lesson about the present continuous to see examples of verbs that can not be put in the continuous form as well as the spelling of -ing forms).
Form of the past continuous:
To be + verb + ing in the simple past |
verb to work (past continuous)
Affirmative | Negative | questions |
I was working | I was not working (I wasn't working) | was I working? |
You were working | you were not working (you weren't working ) | were you working? |
He was working | he was not working (he wasn't working) | was he working? |
She was working | she was not working (she wasn't working ) | was she working ? |
It was working | It was not working (it wasn't working ) | was it working ? |
We were working | we were not working (we weren't working ) | were we working ? |
you were working | you were not working (you weren't working ) | were you working ? |
They were working | they were not working (they weren't working ) | were they working ? |
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