We use it

This tense is used to describe an action which was in progress in the past.

It is very common to find this tense followed by an action in "Simple Past" to express that, while the action was in progress (Past Continuous) another thing happened (Past Simple).

Translation available

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Subject + Was / Were + Verb -Ing + the rest of the sentence.

To formulate affirmative sentences in this tense, we use the Past of the verb "To Be" (Was or Were).

If the subject of the sentence is

He - She - It - I

We use "Was".

If the subject of the sentence is

You - We - They

We use "Were".

After the Simple Past form of the verb "To Be", it is written the main verb ending in -Ing to identify that the action was in progress.

  • Examples

    Kevin was having a shower when the phone rang.

    The teacher was writing on the board.

    They were playing football when it started raining.

    I was driving home when I saw an "UFO".

Subject + Wasn't / Weren't + Verb -Ing + the rest of the sentence.

In the Negative sentences, add "Not" to the verb "To Be".

Was Not (Wasn't)

or

Were Not (Weren't).

We always write the main verb of the sentence with -Ing at the end of it.

Was / Were + Subject + Verb -Ing + the rest of the sentence?

In the interrogative, the verb "To Be" is written before the subject.

The main verb of the sentence is always written with -Ing at the end of it.

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Answer

Correct Answer

Lucy _ _ _ _ _ when she fell down.

were having a shower

Try again

was having a shower

Well done!

was have a shower

Wrong answer

The dog ran away when it saw you _ _ _ _ _ home.

were arriving

Good!

were arrived

Keep trying

was arriving

Try again

_ _ _ _ _ when the team appeared?

Was it rains

Wrong answer

Were it raining

Keep trying

Was it raining

You did it!

I _ _ _ _ _ when I said it was wrong!

hadn't kidding

Try again

was not kidding

Great!

did kidding

Wrong answer

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

He was sleep yesterday.

Keep trying

He was sleeping yesterday.

Cool!

He were sleeping yestreday.

Try again

The verb TO BE is always conjugated in Simple Past.

True

You did it!

False

Wrong answer

We have to take into account the Regular or Irregular form of the main verb.

True

Try again

False

That´s it!

The main verb always finishes with –ING.

True

Correct answer!

False

Try again

In the negative form, we use WASN'T or WEREN'T.

True

Well done!

False

Keep trying

I _ _ _ _ _ running in the morning.

was

Good!

were

Wrong answer

where

Keep trying

They _ _ _ _ _ eating a hamburger.

was

Try again

where

Wrong answer

were

Great!

My sister _ _ _ _ _ dinner when the phone rang.

cooking

Keep trying

was cooking

Cool!

were cooking

Try again

I _ _ _ _ _ football when he arrived.

were playing

Wrong answer

was play

Keep trying

was playing

You did it!

While you _ _ _ _ _ , she entered the room.

weren't seeing

That´s it!

was seeing

Try again

saw

Wrong answer

_ _ _ _ _ she sleeping?

Did

Keep trying

Was

Correct answer!

Were

Try again

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