The Past Continuous has 4 main uses/functions: Use 1 – an interrupted action in the past. Here the Past Continuous is used to indicate a long action that was interrupted. Usually the action that interrupts the long action is the Past Simple. I was studying when Danny called me. She was answering an important e-mail when I interrupted her. Define simple past tense. The simple past tense describes a verb/action in the past, i.e. already done. For example, “The thief stole the diamond crown.”. Here, the given sentence is in the past tense as the action ‘stole’ has already been done. Q2. Answer: No, I met my wife while I was working in London. Simultaneous Actions. We can also use two past continuous forms to describe two actions that were in progress at the same time. In this case, we usually link the two continuous verbs with 'when', ''while' or 'and'. Examples: While I was washing my car, a boy fell off his bicycle. We were Past continuous tense shows that some action remained continued in the past. The first form of the verb is used with the addition of ing is used. ( 1 st form + ing). “was, were” are the helping verbs of this tense. “was” is used with the singulars. “were” is used with plural. Like we, you, they, and other plural nouns. When and While. The past continuous tense is most commonly used when. two past actions, one interrupting the other and one longer. than the other, happened at the same time. In this situation, the simple past tense is used for the shorter action and the. past continuous tense is used for the longer action. In such a situation, the connecting Past Continuous Tense Examples Chart Download. 1. Positive Past Continuous Tense Examples. 1. I was going to run in the park, but then I decided to go to bed instead. 2. You were swimming in the pool all day. 3. He was trying to solve the problem last week. Past Continuous. Like the present continuous, the past continuous is formed using “to be” with “verb+ing”. However, as this is a past tense, “to be” is changed into the past (“was” or “were”) while the present participle (“verb+ing”) remains. My father was reading his book and my mother was watching TV. After lunch, I decided to sit by the window and watch the street. Some people was waiting at the bus stop. While I was watching the street I witnessed an accident. A car couldn't stop at the traffic lights and hit another car. Luckily nobody injured. Now I am waiting for my friend. Past continuous tense expresses the actions or task that were ongoing in the past. We cannot determine when the action started or finished. For example, When I was walking yesterday, it started raining. Signal Words. when ; as long as ; while; yesterday. Structure / Formula. Subject + was/were + Present participle (-ing) form A) Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive). When I phoned my friends, they (play) monopoly. Yesterday at six I (prepare) dinner. The kids (play) in the garden when it suddenly began to rain. I (practice) the guitar when he came home. We (not / cycle) all day. While Alan (work) in his room, his friends (swim) in the pool. 0zABAz.