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Past continuous Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 2 minutes

Past Continuous Form : ( Was / were + verb -ing )

In English we use the past continuous to talk about an action taking place during a period of time in the past. We usually use it with past simple.

The table below shows the different forms of past continuous :

Example verb : study	I / He / She / It	You / We / They
Positive	... was studying.	... were studying.
Negative	... wasn't studying.	... weren't studying.
Questions	Was ... studying?	Were ... studying?
Short answers	Yes, ... was. / No, ... wasn't.	Yes, ... were. / No, ... weren't.

In English we use the past continuous to show that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the past simple. This can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Past Continuous Examples Sentences :

Positive Examples of Past Continuous :

I was cooking dinner when she phoned.
While we were cycling in the park, it started to rain.
While Alex was exercising, someone stole his bike.

Negative Examples of Past Continuous :

You were not listening to the teacher when she gave us our homework.
He wasn't paying attention when the fire alarm went off.
We weren't watching the film during the scary parts.

Question Examples of Past Continuous :

What were you doing when you had the car accident?
What were you doing when the police turned up?
Where was he living when the attack happened in London?

In English we can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples Sentences :

Last night at 6 PM, I was travelling home.
At midnight, I was still studying for my exam.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting on a beach in Australia.

When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it means that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples Sentences :

I was swimming while he was sunbathing.
While Emily was cooking, Brian was doing his homework.
Were you listening when I was speaking to you?
They were sitting by the pool, sipping cocktails, and talking about life.

Past continuous example sentences
And the girls were too busy ordering.	아가씨들은 주문한다고 정신이 없고.
I was wondering where that chorizo smell was coming from.	초리조 냄새가 어디서 나나 했네.
Thank god you weren't looking for red wine!	레드 와인을 찾던 중이 아니라 정말 다행이다!
I think she definitely understood I was lying!	거짓말인 거 알아본 게 틀림없는 거 같아!
First she started to mumble about how long my cooking was taking.	근데 내 요리가 오래 걸린다고 중얼거리기 시작하잖아요.
Yes, I already made myself a coffee while you were sleeping.	응, 네가 자는 동안 벌써 커피 한 잔 내려마셨거든.
Noone was paying attention to your "precious" bag.	네 "소중한" 가방에 아무도 신경 안 쓰고 있던데.
But I don't know where he was getting it from.	근데 어디서 사왔는 건지는 모르겠어.
The other day, you complained about how loud I was snoring.	전에는 내가 시끄럽게 코 곤다고 불평했잖아.
I can't believe it, I was planning to sleep till 9 today!	말도 안돼 진짜, 오늘은 9시까지 잘 생각이었단 말야!
No, I wasn't interested at all, I was just trying to be nice to her.	아냐, 마음에 들기는 무슨, 그냥 말이라도 상냥하게 하려고 해본 거지.
I thought Diego was taking you somewhere.	디에고랑 어디 가는 줄 알았는데요.
The only smoke I could see was coming out of her ears.	연기라고는 그 여자 양 귀에서 나는 거 밖에 없었다니까.
Yes, sorry, I was thinking of getting stock powder at the shop.	응, 미안해. 가게에서 육수 파우더를 살 생각이었어.
Okay, long story short, I was cooking some chips last night.	좋아요, 간추려 보자면, 어젯밤에 감자튀김을 좀 만들고 있는데.
Really? What was she saying?	정말? 무슨 말 했는데요?
When I came, you were at the bar getting yourself a beer.	와서 보니까 네가 바에서 맥주를 받아들고 있잖아.
Yeah, it wasn't only Pogo, she was complaining about everything!	그러니까, 포고 뿐만 아니라 온갖 걸 갖고 불평했어요!
Oh, I see, she was talking about it last night!	아, 그렇구나, 어제 얘기를 하더라니!
She was in the kitchen, too, preparing something to cook.	줄리앤도 부엌에서 뭔가 요리 준비를 하더라구요.

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