We use the Past continuous tense to say that something was happening at a particular past time.
- What were you doing at two o’clock this morning? I was sleeping at two o’clock this morning.
- When I left for work this morning, it was raining.
With past simple tense.
We often use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense.
The past continuous gives background information about a longer action when another shorter action interrupted it.
- I was walking through the park yesterday when a magpie swooped me.
- The phone rang while I was doing my homework.
Shorter Temporary Situations
We use the past continuous tense to talk about temporary actions in the past. For longer more permanent situations in the past, we use the past simple tense.
- I met John when I was living in Perth. (past simple with past continuous)
- I moved to the city when I was a child. (past simple. longer permanent action.)
Unplanned or Unexpected Repeated Actions
If we use words like always and continually, and similar words, we can use the past progressive to talk about things that happened repeatedly and unexpectedly.
- She was always coming over unannounced with treats for the children when they were young.
- John was always surprising me with a gift back then.
- Don’t forget, we can’t use the continuous tenses with stative verbs.
To find out how to make the past continuous form, click here.
To practise using the past continuous tense, click below.
