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← Grammar reference

PAST

Past continuous

Was / were + verb + -ing, for actions that were in progress at a time in the past.

I / he / she / ityou / we / they
+I was workingYou were working
−I wasn't workingYou weren't working
?Was I working?Were you working?

Spelling of -ing: write → writing · run → running · make → making

A2

Was / were + verb-ing

New

Use was with I / he / she / it and were with you / we / they, then the verb + -ing.

subject+ was / were+ verb + -ing

  • I was reading a book.
  • They were playing football.
  • We was playing football.
  • We were playing football.

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She was a letter.

A2

Actions in progress at a past time

New

Use the past continuous for something that was happening at a particular time in the past, like at eight o'clock or this time yesterday.

time+ subject+ was / were+ verb + -ing

  • At eight o'clock I was having breakfast.
  • This time yesterday we were flying to Rome.
  • At eight o'clock I had breakfast.
  • At eight o'clock I was having breakfast.

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At five o'clock yesterday we   tennis in the park.

A2

A longer action and a shorter one

New

Use the past continuous for the longer action and the past simple for the shorter action that interrupted it. When usually comes with the short action, while with the long one.

subject+ was / were + -ing+ when+ past simple

  • I was walking home when it started to rain.
  • While we were eating, the phone rang.
  • We were eating when the phone was ringing.
  • We were eating when the phone rang.

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I walking home when it started to rain.

B1

Negatives and questions

New

Use wasn't / weren't + verb-ing to say something was not happening. In questions put was / were before the subject. Do not use did.

Was / Were+ subject+ verb + -ing

  • I wasn't listening to the teacher.
  • Were you sleeping when I called?
  • Did you sleeping when I called?
  • Were you sleeping when I called?

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They watching the match.

B1

Repeated actions with always

New

Use was / were always + verb-ing for a repeated action in the past that was annoying or happened too often.

subject+ was / were always+ verb + -ing

  • He was always losing his keys.
  • My sister was always borrowing my clothes.
  • He always was losing his keys.
  • He was always losing his keys.

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One word is in the wrong form. Type the correct form.

She was always complain about her job.