Past Continuous: Rules, Examples & Exercises

Imagine what happened in the past like a movie. To describe it, we use the Past Continuous Tense. Try this exercise to check what you know about it:

Was this too hard? Study the article below and do the exercises at the bottom of this page.

Structure
- Verb (-ing) Form
Conjugation Table
When to Use the Past Continuous Tense
- Time Expressions for Past Continuous
- Key Points
Exercises on Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense is used to talk about actions that were happening at a specific time in the past or actions that were interrupted by another event.

Structure

The past continuous tense is formed using:

Affirmative: Subject + was/were + verb (-ing).
Negative: Subject + was not/were not (wasn’t/weren’t) + verb (-ing).
Interrogative: Was/Were + subject + verb (-ing)?

Verb (-ing) Form

To form the “-ing” form of a verb:

Add -ing: work → working, play → playing.
Drop the e and add -ing: write → writing.
Double the last consonant for short, stressed vowels: run → running.

Conjugation Table

Download PNG

Download PDF

When to Use the Past Continuous Tense

This verb tense is used in the following situations:

Download PNG

Download PDF

Finding confusing with other Past Tenses? You can also study Past Simple, Past Perfect, or even to know more about habits in the past study Semi-Modals of Habits.

Time Expressions for Past Continuous

This verb tense often uses these time expressions:

At (specific time): At 6 p.m., I was having dinner.
When (interruption): I was sleeping when the alarm went off.
While (two actions): She was reading while he was cooking.

Key Points

Affirmative: Use was/were + verb (-ing).
Negative: Add not after “was/were” (short forms: wasn’t/weren’t).
Interrogative: Start with was/were, then use subject + verb (-ing).
Use time expressions like at, when, and while to give context.

Exercises on Past Continuous Tense

EXERCISE: Write a complete sentence in the Past Continuous

Write complete sentences in the Past Continuous. Use affirmative, negative, or question forms as indicated.
Example:
Prompt: she – play the piano – then (affirmative)
Answer: She was playing the piano then.

1 / 10

He – work – all night (affirmative)

2 / 10

We – walk – in the park (affirmative)

3 / 10

I – sleep – when he arrived (affirmative)

4 / 10

She – study – for the exam (negative)

5 / 10

He – talk – on the phone (question)

6 / 10

You – listen to music (question)

7 / 10

We – have dinner – when she called (negative)

8 / 10

They – play football – then (affirmative)

9 / 10

They – eat – when the lights went out (negative)

10 / 10

She – drive – during the storm (question)

Your score is

By Wordpress Quiz plugin