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Tenses

Past Continuous

Background action interrupted or in progress in the past.

Explanation

Form it with was or were plus -ing. It sets the scene for a story, describes what was already happening when something else occurred, and shows two simultaneous past actions.

Examples

I was cooking when the power failed.
They were talking while the bus waited.
It was raining all afternoon.

Common mistakes

I was cook when he arrived.
I was cooking when he arrived.
The continuous needs -ing.
When she called, I cooked.
When she called, I was cooking.
Use the continuous for the action in progress.
We was waiting outside.
We were waiting outside.
We takes were.

More Tenses

Past Perfect Continuous

Ongoing past action leading up to another past event.

Used To and Would for Past Habits

Past habits and states that are no longer true.

Choosing Tenses in a Narrative

Mixing past simple, past continuous and past perfect.

Present Simple

Facts, habits and timetables.

Present Continuous

Actions happening now or around now.