Sentence structure: Past continuous

In this chapter

• When do we use it?

  For an action in progress at a moment in the past. Often the longer action (was/were + -ing) is interrupted by a short event (past simple).

• Past continuous

  action in progress (was/were + -ing); interrupting event (V2)

  Pattern: Subject + was/were + verb + -ing

  Example: I was doing my homework at 8 o'clock last night.

  Example: We were walking home when it started to rain.

• Formula

  Positive: They were playing outside. · Negative: They weren't playing outside. · Question: Were they playing outside? · Short answer: Yes, they were. / No, they weren't.

• Color-coded examples

  Long action: was reading. Short event: rang.

  Example: I was reading a comic when the phone rang.

  Example: At 7 p.m., my parents were cooking dinner.

• Turkish equivalents

  Example: I was taking a shower when you called.

  Example: I was reading a book at 9 last night.

• Tip

  while usually goes before the long action, and when often goes before the short event: While I was reading, the phone rang. / I was reading when the phone rang. Long action: past continuous; short event: past simple.