We study...
Past Continuos
USE
We use the past continuous to talk about...
Activities in progress in the past
At 8 o'clock this morning, I was sleeping.
Actions in progress in a story
The old man was writing a letter to his children because he knew he was seriously ill.
Actions in progress interrrupted by other actions.
I was riding my bike, when I fell off.
Form
Take a look at the form of the Past Continuous...
Auxiliary BE (was/were) + Verb -ing
- At 8 o'clock this morning, I was sleeping.
- My mother was making breakfast.
- My father was working on the computer.
- My siblings were arguing over the remote control.
Auxiliary BE (was/were) + Not + Verb -ing
- At 8 o'clock this morning, I wasn't having breakfast.
- My mother wasn't working on the computer.
- My father wasn't making breakfast.
- My siblings weren't talking about life.
Auxiliary BE (was/were) + Verb -ing ?
Inversion !
- - Were you having breakfast at o'clock this morning?
- -No, I wasn't.
- -Was your mother making breakfast?
- -Yes, she was.
- -What was your father doing?
- -He was working on the computer.
STORY: Fernando and the stray dogs
Leyla was a stray dog that visited the parking lot outside Fernando’s office. She was super friendly and loved to be petted. Every day, when Fernando was going into work, Leyla was sitting outside, waiting to greet him. And when he was leaving at night she was there again, waiting to follow him to his car and watch him drive away. Then one day, Leyla showed up with a friend, Chance. Chance was very thin and he was suffering from mange. Fernando was worried about how sick he was. He knew he wouldn’t survive long on the streets, so he decided to take them both to the vet. Fernando adopted both of them and today Chance is a very happy dog and a lot fatter. Sadly Leyla passed away last year, but Chance still lives with Fernando and some of other stray dogs that Fernando has rescued.
Past Continuous
Past Simple
Actions in progress in the past. Auxiliary: WAS/WERE in all forms. Verb with -ing in all forms.
Finished actions in the past. Auxiliary: DID only in - and ? forms (exception: BE) Verb in the past (-ed or irregular) in + form
VS
+info
+info
Now Practice!
Past Continuous
Silvia Pederzolli
Created on October 18, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Psychedelic Presentation
View
Chalkboard Presentation
View
Witchcraft Presentation
View
Sketchbook Presentation
View
Genial Storytale Presentation
View
Vaporwave presentation
View
Animated Sketch Presentation
Explore all templates
Transcript
We study...
Past Continuos
USE
We use the past continuous to talk about...
Activities in progress in the past
At 8 o'clock this morning, I was sleeping.
Actions in progress in a story
The old man was writing a letter to his children because he knew he was seriously ill.
Actions in progress interrrupted by other actions.
I was riding my bike, when I fell off.
Form
Take a look at the form of the Past Continuous...
Auxiliary BE (was/were) + Verb -ing
Auxiliary BE (was/were) + Not + Verb -ing
Auxiliary BE (was/were) + Verb -ing ?
Inversion !
STORY: Fernando and the stray dogs
Leyla was a stray dog that visited the parking lot outside Fernando’s office. She was super friendly and loved to be petted. Every day, when Fernando was going into work, Leyla was sitting outside, waiting to greet him. And when he was leaving at night she was there again, waiting to follow him to his car and watch him drive away. Then one day, Leyla showed up with a friend, Chance. Chance was very thin and he was suffering from mange. Fernando was worried about how sick he was. He knew he wouldn’t survive long on the streets, so he decided to take them both to the vet. Fernando adopted both of them and today Chance is a very happy dog and a lot fatter. Sadly Leyla passed away last year, but Chance still lives with Fernando and some of other stray dogs that Fernando has rescued.
Past Continuous
Past Simple
Actions in progress in the past. Auxiliary: WAS/WERE in all forms. Verb with -ing in all forms.
Finished actions in the past. Auxiliary: DID only in - and ? forms (exception: BE) Verb in the past (-ed or irregular) in + form
VS
+info
+info
Now Practice!