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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
She was in the kitchen, too, preparing something to cook.	줄리앤도 부엌에서 뭔가 요리 준비를 하더라구요.
Yes, I already made myself a coffee while you were sleeping.	응, 네가 자는 동안 벌써 커피 한 잔 내려마셨거든.
The only smoke I could see was coming out of her ears.	연기라고는 그 여자 양 귀에서 나는 거 밖에 없었다니까.
I was just trying to be more realistic!	실감 나게 해보려고 한 것 뿐이라구!
I can't believe it, I was planning to sleep till 9 today!	말도 안돼 진짜, 오늘은 9시까지 잘 생각이었단 말야!
Yes, sorry, I was thinking of getting stock powder at the shop.	응, 미안해. 가게에서 육수 파우더를 살 생각이었어.
And you pretended you didn't know I was living here.	그리고 제가 여기 살고 있는 걸 모르는 척 했구요.
Okay, long story short, I was cooking some chips last night.	좋아요, 간추려 보자면, 어젯밤에 감자튀김을 좀 만들고 있는데.
Hm, why was he begging the fairy to turn him into a real kid then?	엥, 그럼 왜 진짜 아이가 되게 해달라고 요정한테 빈 거야?
Yeah, it wasn't only Pogo, she was complaining about everything!	그러니까, 포고 뿐만 아니라 온갖 걸 갖고 불평했어요!
First she started to mumble about how long my cooking was taking.	근데 내 요리가 오래 걸린다고 중얼거리기 시작하잖아요.
But I don't know where he was getting it from.	근데 어디서 사왔는 건지는 모르겠어.
It sounds like she was having a mental breakdown.	신경 쇠약이라도 온 모양인데.
And the girls were too busy ordering.	아가씨들은 주문한다고 정신이 없고.
Really? What was she saying?	정말? 무슨 말 했는데요?
How did you know you were knocking on the right door?	그 집이 맞는 주소인 건 알고 두드린 거야?
That's what I was planning.	그럴 계획이긴 한데.
I was also training new workers how to make coffee.	새 직원들한테 커피 내리는 법을 교육시키곤 했어.
I thought Diego was taking you somewhere.	디에고랑 어디 가는 줄 알았는데요.
Oh, I see, she was talking about it last night!	아, 그렇구나, 어제 얘기를 하더라니!

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