Intermediate grammar · Unit 6 · B1

Past continuous (I was doing)

Present and past

Use was/were + -ing for something that was in progress at a particular time in the past. Use it with the past simple to say that one thing happened in the middle of another.

Go to the exercises

A What the past continuous is

Yesterday Joel and Bea went for a run. They started at 7 o'clock and finished at 8.

So at 7.30 they were running. They were in the middle of the run. They had not finished.

The form is was/were + -ing:

Subject was / were -ing
I / he / she / it was running, doing, working
we / you / they were running, doing, working
  • At 7.30 they were running.
  • I was working all afternoon.
  • We were sitting in the garden when it started to rain.

B In the middle of something at a certain time

I was doing something means I was in the middle of doing it at a certain time. The action or situation started before this time and had not finished.

  • This time last year I was living in Leeds.
  • What were you doing at midnight last night?
  • I shouted to Ben, but he wasn't listening.

C Compare: I was doing and I did

Past continuous: in the middle of an action Past simple: a complete action
We were driving to Hull when the tyre went. (in the middle of the journey) We drove to Hull on Sunday. (= all the way, completely)
Nina was reading when we got home. Nina read a lot when she was off work last year.
  • We were driving to Hull when the tyre went.
  • We drove to Hull on Sunday.
  • Nina was reading when we got home.
  • Nina read a lot when she was off work last year.

D Something that happened in the middle of something else

Use the past simple for the shorter thing that happened, and the past continuous for the longer thing it interrupted.

When one thing happened after another, use the past simple for both.

Compare:
When Dylan arrived, we were eating. When Dylan arrived, we ate.
We had already started before he arrived. Dylan arrived, and then we ate.

The second version is kinder to Dylan.

  • My phone rang while I was having a shower.
  • It was snowing when we left the house.
  • I saw you at the station yesterday. You were standing by the ticket office and eating a pasty.
  • I twisted my ankle while I was playing football.
  • I was waiting for the bus when I saw Kath. So I crossed the road, and we chatted for a few minutes.

E Verbs not normally used in the continuous

Some verbs, such as know and want, are not normally used in continuous forms, past or present. Unit 4A has the full list.

  • We were neighbours for years. We knew each other very well. (not we were knowing)
  • I was enjoying the walk, but my sister wanted to go back. (not was wanting)

Exercises

6.1 Complete the sentences. Choose from the phrases below.

was lookingwas wearingwasn't listeningweren't lookingwere you goingwas snowingwas workingwere sitting

  1. Today Asha is wearing a dress. Yesterday she was wearing jeans.

    Today Asha is wearing a dress. Yesterday she was wearing jeans.

  2. "What did the teacher say?" "No idea. I ."

  3. We near the back of the bus, so we didn't see what happened.

  4. This time last summer, Rhys in an ice-cream van in Scarborough.

  5. The children didn't see the fox. They out of the window.

  6. It was a horrible morning. It was freezing, and it heavily.

  7. I saw you on the motorway this morning. Where ?

  8. I bumped into your mum an hour ago. She for you.

6.2 Which goes with which? Match each beginning with its ending.

  1. because she wasn't feeling well.
  2. when we were driving up the hill.
  3. my brother was waiting for me.
  4. while we were eating our tea.
  5. but nobody was listening to it.
  6. he was working in a bike shop.
  7. when he was living in Madrid.

  1. When I got to the station,c

    When I got to the station, my brother was waiting for me.

  2. The dog fell asleep

  3. Hassan learnt Spanish

  4. Ellie didn't come to the party

  5. The engine started to smoke

  6. The radio was on,

  7. When I first met Rob,

6.3 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

  1. At a busy market, a man is waving at a woman. She has her back to him and is choosing apples at a fruit stall.

    I saw Leah at the market yesterday, but she (not / see) me. She (look) the other way.

  2. At night, a car is braking on a quiet road while a fox runs across in front of it.

    I (drive) through Sheffield last night when a fox (run) across the road. I (not / go) very fast, so I (brake) in plenty of time, and the fox (get) away safely.

6.4 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

  1. Mo was standing (stand) at the bus stop when I drove (drive) past.

    Mo was standing at the bus stop when I drove past.

  2. "What (you / do) at 8 o'clock last night?" "I was at my yoga class."

  3. " (you / watch) the match last night?" "No, I was working."

  4. How fast (the other car / go) when it (hit) you?

  5. Jas (steal) a chip from my plate while I (not / look).

  6. We were completely lost. We (not / know) where we were, so we (ring) my brother.

  7. I haven't heard from Kieran for months. When I last (speak) to him, he (look) for a new flat.

  8. I (sit) in the garden when suddenly I (feel) a drop of rain. A storm (come). I (grab) the washing and ran inside.

  9. When I was a child, I (want) to be a vet. Later I (decide) to train as a nurse.

  10. Last night I (cut) my finger while I (chop) onions. Luckily it (not / bleed) much.

See also