Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 6 · B1

Past continuous (I was doing)

Use was/were + -ing for something that was in progress at a particular time in the past. Use it with the past simple to say that one thing happened in the middle of another.

Start the lesson

17Steps · about 27 minutes

In this lesson

What the past continuous isA1 screen of questions
In the middle of something at a certain timeB2 screens of questions
Compare: I was doing and I didC4 screens of questions
Something that happened in the middle of something elseD2 screens of questions
Verbs not normally used in the continuousE1 screen of questions

Point A of 5

What the past continuous is

On Sunday Joel and Bea did a parkrun. They set off at 9 o'clock and crossed the line at 9.35.

So at 9.15 they were running. The run had begun but was not over.

The form is was/were + -ing:

Subject was / were -ing
I / he / she / it was running, doing, working
we / you / they were running, doing, working
  • At 7.30 they were running.
  • I was working all afternoon.
  • We were sitting in the garden when it started to rain.

Point A · Extra practice

Put the verb in brackets into the past continuous (was/were + -ing).

  1. At ten o'clock last night I for an exam. (revise)

  2. We in the garden when it started to rain. (sit)

  3. What you when the power went off? (do)

Point B of 5

In the middle of something at a certain time

I was doing something places me part-way through an activity at a given moment. It had begun before that moment and was still going on.

  • At this point last year I was renting a flat in Leeds.
  • What were you doing at midnight last night?
  • I shouted to Ben, but he wasn't listening.

Point B · Exercise 6.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Choose from the phrases below.

Use these

was lookingwas wearingwasn't listeningweren't lookingwere you goingwas snowingwas workingwere sitting

  1. Example

    Today Asha is wearing a dress. Yesterday she was wearing jeans.

    AnswerToday Asha is wearing a dress. Yesterday she was wearing jeans.

  2. "What did the teacher say?" "No idea. I ."

  3. We near the back of the bus, so we didn't see what happened.

  4. This time last summer, Rhys in an ice-cream van in Scarborough.

  5. The children didn't see the fox. They out of the window.

Point B · Exercise 6.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Choose from the phrases below.

Use these

was lookingwas wearingwasn't listeningweren't lookingwere you goingwas snowingwas workingwere sitting

  1. It was a horrible morning. It was freezing, and it heavily.

  2. I saw you on the motorway this morning. Where ?

  3. I bumped into your mum an hour ago. She for you.

Point C of 5

Compare: I was doing and I did

Past continuous: in the middle of an action Past simple: a complete action
We were driving to Hull when the tyre went. (in the middle of the journey) We drove to Hull on Sunday. (= all the way, completely)
Nina was reading when we got home. Nina read a lot when she was off work last year.
  • We were driving to Hull when the tyre went.
  • We drove to Hull on Sunday.
  • Nina was reading when we got home.
  • Nina read a lot when she was off work last year.

Point C · Exercise 6.3

Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

  1. At a busy market, a man is waving at a woman. She has her back to him and is choosing apples at a fruit stall.

    I saw Leah at the market yesterday, but she (not / see) me. She (look) the other way.

  2. At night, a car is braking on a quiet road while a fox runs across in front of it.

    I (drive) through Sheffield last night when a fox (run) across the road. I (not / go) very fast, so I (brake) in plenty of time, and the fox (get) away safely.

Point C · Exercise 6.4 · part 1 of 3

Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

  1. Example

    Mo was standing (stand) at the bus stop when I drove (drive) past.

    AnswerMo was standing at the bus stop when I drove past.

  2. "What (you / do) at nine last night?" "I was at my yoga class."

  3. " (you / watch) the match last night?" "No, I was working."

  4. How fast (the other car / go) when it (hit) you?

  5. Jas (steal) a chip from my plate while I (not / look).

Point C · Exercise 6.4 · part 2 of 3

Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

  1. We were completely lost. We (not / know) where we were, so we (ring) my brother.

  2. I haven't heard from Kieran for months. When I last (speak) to him, he (look) for a new flat.

  3. I (sit) in the garden when suddenly I (feel) a drop of rain. A storm (come). I (grab) the washing and ran inside.

  4. When I was a child, I (want) to be a vet. Later I (decide) to train as a nurse.

Point C · Exercise 6.4 · part 3 of 3

Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

  1. Last night I (cut) my finger while I (chop) onions. Luckily it (not / bleed) much.

Point D of 5

Something that happened in the middle of something else

Use the past simple for the shorter thing that happened, and the past continuous for the longer thing it interrupted.

When one thing happened after another, use the past simple for both.

Compare:
When Dylan arrived, we were eating. When Dylan arrived, we ate.
We had already started before he arrived. Dylan arrived, and then we ate.

The second version is kinder to Dylan.

  • My phone rang while I was having a shower.
  • It was snowing when we left the house.
  • I saw you at the station yesterday. You were standing by the ticket office and eating a pasty.
  • I twisted my ankle while I was playing football.
  • I was waiting for the bus when I saw Kath. So I crossed the road, and we chatted for a few minutes.

Point D · Exercise 6.2 · part 1 of 2

Which goes with which? Match each beginning with its ending.

Use these

  1. because she wasn't feeling well.
  2. when we were driving up the hill.
  3. my brother was waiting for me.
  4. while we were eating our tea.
  5. but nobody was listening to it.
  6. he was working in a bike shop.
  7. when he was living in Madrid.

  1. Example

    When I got to the station,

    c

    AnswerWhen I got to the station, my brother was waiting for me.

  2. The dog fell asleep

  3. Hassan learnt Spanish

  4. Ellie didn't come to the party

  5. The engine started to smoke

Point D · Exercise 6.2 · part 2 of 2

Which goes with which? Match each beginning with its ending.

Use these

  1. because she wasn't feeling well.
  2. when we were driving up the hill.
  3. my brother was waiting for me.
  4. while we were eating our tea.
  5. but nobody was listening to it.
  6. he was working in a bike shop.
  7. when he was living in Madrid.

  1. The radio was on,

  2. When I first met Rob,

Point E of 5

Verbs not normally used in the continuous

Verbs such as know and want rarely take continuous forms, in the past or the present. Unit 4A lists them.

  • We were neighbours for years. We knew each other very well. (not we were knowing)
  • I was enjoying the walk, but my sister wanted to go back. (not was wanting)

Point E · Extra practice

Put the verb in brackets into the past simple or the past continuous. Some of these verbs are not normally continuous.

  1. We the answer, so we kept quiet. (not / know)

  2. I to go home, but my friends wanted to stay. (want)

  3. She a bath when I rang, so she didn't answer. (have)

Lesson 6 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Present perfect 1 (I have done)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. What the past continuous is–Not checkedB. In the middle of something at a certain time–Not checkedC. Compare: I was doing and I did–Not checkedD. Something that happened in the middle of something else–Not checkedE. Verbs not normally used in the continuous–Not checked