Past Continuous

Reference

Common mistakes

1. I was knowing the answer. → I knew the answer.
   stative verb → past simple
2. When I cooked, the phone was ringing. → When I was cooking, the phone rang.
   background = continuous · interruption = simple
3. She was play tennis yesterday. → She was playing tennis yesterday.
   was/were + verb-ing (not base verb)
4. They was watching TV. → They were watching TV.
   they → were (not was)

Past Continuous — Exercises

Choose the correct form

1. I _____ TV when you called. (was watching / watched / were watching)
2. They _____ football yesterday. (was playing / were playing / play)
3. What _____ you _____ at 8pm? (were doing / did do / was doing)
4. She _____ when the bell rang. (sleep / was sleeping / were sleeping)
5. While I _____, my phone rang. (cooked / was cooking / were cooking)
6. It _____ heavily this morning. (was raining / rained / were raining)
7. We _____ very happy at the party. (was feeling / were feeling / felt)
8. He _____ to me when I left. (wasn't talking / didn't talking / weren't talking)

Complete with Past Continuous

1. I (study)   when she arrived.
2. They (not / listen)   to the teacher.
3. What   (you / do)?
4. The kids (play)   in the garden.
5. She (sleep)   at 11pm.

Past Continuous — Answer Key

Choose the correct form

1. was watching — In progress when you called; I → was watching.
2. were playing — They → were playing.
3. were doing — Question: What were you doing?
4. was sleeping — In progress when the bell rang; she → was sleeping.
5. was cooking — While + the longer action → was cooking.
6. was raining — Background scene; it → was raining.
7. were feeling — We → were feeling.
8. wasn't talking — He, negative → wasn't talking.

Complete with Past Continuous

1. was studying
2. weren't listening
3. were you doing
4. were playing
5. was sleeping