Introduction & Warm-up
Today's Objectives
Ongoing Actions
Learn was/were + -ing for actions in progress
Time Context
Use "at 8pm" and "while" for background actions
Actions in Progress Warm-up
Click to hear ongoing actions:
Structure & Rules
Why Learn Past Continuous?
Past Continuous helps you set the scene and describe what was happening in the background. Perfect for storytelling!
Formation: was/were + verb-ing
Past Continuous describes actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.
| Subject | was/were | verb + -ing | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I/He/She/It | was | working | I was working at 9am |
| You/We/They | were | playing | They were playing soccer |
Negative and Question Forms
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Negative | wasn't/weren't + verb-ing | I wasn't working |
| Question | Was/Were + subject + verb-ing | Were you working? |
| Wh- Question | Wh- + was/were + subject + verb-ing | What were you doing? |
-ing Spelling Rules
Common Time Expressions
Past Continuous vs Past Simple
Key Difference
Past Continuous: Action in progress (background)
Past Simple: Completed action (main event)
Example: I was reading when he called.
Role-Play Scenarios
What Were You Doing? - Alibi Investigation
Scenario: Police Investigation
There was a break-in at the office yesterday evening. A detective is asking employees about their activities to establish alibis using past continuous.
Sentence Starters for Describing Past Activities
What You Were Doing
Ongoing Situations
Questions About Activities
Interrupted Activities - Phone Call During Work
Scenario: Explaining Interruptions
You're telling a colleague about interruptions that happened while you were working on an important project, using past continuous for background activities.
Sentence Starters for Work Interruptions
Work in Progress
Interruptions
Emotional States
Practice Tip: Click on any dialogue line to hear the pronunciation. Use past continuous to describe what was happening in the background or over a period of time. Remember: was/were + verb-ing!
Practice
Real Background Activity Practice
Describe what was happening at specific past moments!
What were you doing yesterday?
Describe ongoing activities at specific times
Daily Moments
1. Morning (8:00 AM): What was happening?
"I was eating breakfast while watching the news"
"I was getting ready for work"
2. Midday (12:30 PM): Lunchtime activities
"I was having lunch with coworkers"
"I was walking in the park during my break"
3. Evening (7:00 PM): After work time
"I was cooking dinner when you called"
"I was relaxing on the sofa"
4. Night (10:00 PM): Bedtime routine
"I was reading a book before sleeping"
"I was checking my emails one last time"
Past Continuous
Activity Phrases
What were you doing when...?
Describe interrupted actions in the past
Interruption Scenarios
1. Phone Call: When your phone rang
"I was taking a shower when the phone rang"
"I was about to leave the house"
2. Power Outage: When the lights went out
"I was watching my favorite show"
"We were having dinner by candlelight"
3. Surprise Visit: When friends arrived
"I was cleaning the house"
"I wasn't expecting anyone"
4. Important News: When you heard
"I was checking my phone notifications"
"We were discussing weekend plans"
Interrupted Actions
Interruption Phrases
Quiz
At 8pm yesterday, I _____ dinner with my family.
Action in progress at a specific past time.
What _____ you doing when I called?
Ask about ongoing activity during interruption.
They _____ TV when the power went out.
Ongoing activity interrupted by sudden event.
She _____ in the garden all morning.
Extended activity over a period of time.
While I _____ home, it started to rain.
Two actions - one ongoing, one sudden.
Mastery Achieved: You can now use the past continuous to describe ongoing actions and background activities in the past. Next, you'll learn how to compare the past simple and past continuous for telling stories and describing events!