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Past continuous Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 2 minutes

Past Continuous Form : ( Was / were + verb -ing )

In English we use the past continuous to talk about an action taking place during a period of time in the past. We usually use it with past simple.

The table below shows the different forms of past continuous :

Example verb : study	I / He / She / It	You / We / They
Positive	... was studying.	... were studying.
Negative	... wasn't studying.	... weren't studying.
Questions	Was ... studying?	Were ... studying?
Short answers	Yes, ... was. / No, ... wasn't.	Yes, ... were. / No, ... weren't.

In English we use the past continuous to show that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the past simple. This can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Past Continuous Examples Sentences :

Positive Examples of Past Continuous :

I was cooking dinner when she phoned.
While we were cycling in the park, it started to rain.
While Alex was exercising, someone stole his bike.

Negative Examples of Past Continuous :

You were not listening to the teacher when she gave us our homework.
He wasn't paying attention when the fire alarm went off.
We weren't watching the film during the scary parts.

Question Examples of Past Continuous :

What were you doing when you had the car accident?
What were you doing when the police turned up?
Where was he living when the attack happened in London?

In English we can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples Sentences :

Last night at 6 PM, I was travelling home.
At midnight, I was still studying for my exam.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting on a beach in Australia.

When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it means that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples Sentences :

I was swimming while he was sunbathing.
While Emily was cooking, Brian was doing his homework.
Were you listening when I was speaking to you?
They were sitting by the pool, sipping cocktails, and talking about life.

Past continuous example sentences
Yes, I already made myself a coffee while you were sleeping.	응, 네가 자는 동안 벌써 커피 한 잔 내려마셨거든.
I ran inside to check what was happening...	무슨 일인지 보려고 뛰어들어갔더니...
She was in the kitchen, too, preparing something to cook.	줄리앤도 부엌에서 뭔가 요리 준비를 하더라구요.
No, I wasn't interested at all, I was just trying to be nice to her.	아냐, 마음에 들기는 무슨, 그냥 말이라도 상냥하게 하려고 해본 거지.
It sounds like she was having a mental breakdown.	신경 쇠약이라도 온 모양인데.
How did you know you were knocking on the right door?	그 집이 맞는 주소인 건 알고 두드린 거야?
I can't believe it, I was planning to sleep till 9 today!	말도 안돼 진짜, 오늘은 9시까지 잘 생각이었단 말야!
Yeah... What was I saying?	그래요... 무슨 말을 하고 있었더라?
Okay, long story short, I was cooking some chips last night.	좋아요, 간추려 보자면, 어젯밤에 감자튀김을 좀 만들고 있는데.
I think she definitely understood I was lying!	거짓말인 거 알아본 게 틀림없는 거 같아!
I thought Diego was taking you somewhere.	디에고랑 어디 가는 줄 알았는데요.
When I came, you were at the bar getting yourself a beer.	와서 보니까 네가 바에서 맥주를 받아들고 있잖아.
I was wondering where that chorizo smell was coming from.	초리조 냄새가 어디서 나나 했네.
Noone was paying attention to your "precious" bag.	네 "소중한" 가방에 아무도 신경 안 쓰고 있던데.
I was just trying to be more realistic!	실감 나게 해보려고 한 것 뿐이라구!
I was planning on stirfrying some red peppers and mushrooms!	빨간 피망하고 버섯을 좀 볶을 계획이었어!
Oh, I see, she was talking about it last night!	아, 그렇구나, 어제 얘기를 하더라니!
And the girls were too busy ordering.	아가씨들은 주문한다고 정신이 없고.
Alright Nick, what were you saying?	좋아요 닉, 무슨 말 하던 중이었죠?
I was planning on cooking some meat, originally.	원래는 고기를 좀 구울까 했는데.

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