Past continuous
Actions in progress in the past, and interrupted actions.
The rules
- An action in progress interrupted by a shorter one: past continuous + past simple.
- A specific moment inside a longer action → past continuous: "were watching".
- Background action = continuous ("was walking"); sudden event = simple ("saw"). "See" rarely takes continuous.
- Weather as background: past continuous, with the event in past simple.
- Two long parallel actions both take the past continuous: "were playing … were playing".
- "You" takes "were": "What were you doing?"
Examples
- I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
- At 8 pm last night, we were watching TV.
- While I was walking home, I saw an old friend.
- It was raining when we left.
- They were playing cards while the children were playing in the garden.
- What were you doing at midnight?
Quick check
Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1.I _____ dinner when the phone rang.
2.At 8 pm last night, we _____ TV.
3.Which sentence is correct?
4.They _____ cards while the children _____ in the garden.
5.Which question is correct?