GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE
Past Continuous

Definition

The past continuous describes actions continuing in the past.

Example

Graham was sleeping this morning.

Explanation

Past Continuous:

• has the structure was / were + verb-ing.
• describes actions happening at a specific point in the past.
• describes actions happening at the same time in the past.
• describes actions that were happening when a second action (simple past) happened.
• is not used with the verbs "be", "believe", "belong", "forget", "have", "hear", "know", "like", "love", "need", "prefer", "remember", "see", "seem", "understand", or "want".
• add "not" between "was / were" and the verb-ing to make a negative sentence.
• uses "was / were" as auxiliary verbs to make questions.

Related Sections

Past Simple