Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous tense is a verb form used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past, formed with 'was' or 'were' plus the main verb ending in '-ing'. It is often used to set a scene or to show one action interrupting another, such as an ongoing action being interrupted by a sudden event. It is a key tense for narrative writing tested throughout KS3 English.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Identify the two parts needed: 'was' (for I/he/she/it) or 'were' (for you/we/they), plus the main verb plus '-ing'.
- Use the past continuous for an action that was ongoing at a particular moment in the past, e.g. 'At six o'clock, I was cooking dinner.'
- Use it alongside the past simple to show one action interrupting another: the past continuous gives the longer background action and the past simple gives the shorter interrupting action, e.g. 'She was reading when the phone rang.'
- Use two past continuous clauses joined by 'while' or 'as' to show two actions happening at the same time, e.g. 'While he was cooking, she was setting the table.'
- Check spelling rules for adding '-ing': drop a silent 'e' (write becomes writing) and double a single final consonant after a short vowel (run becomes running).
- In narrative writing, use the past continuous to build atmosphere and slow the pace before a key event.
Worked example
Combine these two ideas into one sentence using the past continuous and past simple to show interruption: 1) The children were playing in the garden. 2) Suddenly, thunder crashed.
- Identify the ongoing background action: 'the children were playing in the garden' stays in the past continuous.
- Identify the shorter interrupting action: 'thunder crashed' stays in the past simple.
- Join the two clauses with 'when' to show interruption.
- Final answer: 'The children were playing in the garden when thunder crashed.'
Practice questions
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Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a English exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Write one sentence using the past continuous tense to describe an action in progress at 7pm yesterday.
Explain how using the past continuous tense instead of the past simple changes the effect of this sentence: 'The wind howled around the old house' versus 'The wind was howling around the old house.'
A student writes: 'While I was doing my homework, my sister was arrived home.' Identify the error, explain the rule that has been broken, and rewrite the sentence correctly.
Free printable worksheet
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