NORDINVERSITY
1st Bac Grammar Reference

Grammar: Past Continuous

Use: An ongoing action in the past that was interrupted; two actions happening simultaneously in the past; setting the scene in a story.

Form

  • Positive: Subject + was/were + verb-ing.
  • Negative: Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing.
  • Question: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?

Timeline: An action in progress over a period in the past.

Past ---(---)--- NOW ----- Future

Examples:

  • He was sleeping when the fire alarm rang. (Interrupted action)
  • While I was cooking, my brother was watching TV. (Simultaneous actions)
  • The sun was shining and the birds were singing. (Setting the scene)

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