English Grammar | LearnEnglish | British Council | past continuous
The past continuous is formed from the past tense of be with the -ing form of the verb:
We use the past continuous to talk about the past:
I got home. The children did their homework.
and
The children did their homework when I got home.
As I was watching television the telephone rang.
This use of the past continuous is very common at the beginning of a story:
The past continuous is formed from the past tense of be with the -ing form of the verb:
We use the past continuous to talk about the past:
for something which continued before and after another action:
The children were doing their homework when I got home.
Compare:
I got home. The children did their homework.
and
The children did their homework when I got home.
As I was watching television the telephone rang.
This use of the past continuous is very common at the beginning of a story:
The other day I was waiting for a bus when …
Last week as I was driving to work …
Last week as I was driving to work …
for something that happened before and after a particular time:
It was eight o’clock. I was writing a letter.
Compare:
At eight o’clock I wrote some letters.
Compare:
At eight o’clock I wrote some letters.
In July she was working in McDonald’s.
.to show that something continued for some time:
My head was aching.
Everyone was shouting.
Everyone was shouting.
for something that was happening again and again:
I was practising every day, three times a day.
They were meeting secretly after school.
They were always quarrelling.
They were meeting secretly after school.
They were always quarrelling.
with verbs which show change or growth:
The children were growing up quickly.
Her English was improving.
My hair was going grey.
The town was changing quickly.
Her English was improving.
My hair was going grey.
The town was changing quickly.
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