Past Continuous Tense (Past Progressive) Structure, Uses & Examples
Welcome to the definitive guide on the Past Continuous tense, a cornerstone of English grammar that adds depth, context, and dynamism to your storytelling and descriptions of the past. Whether you are a student grappling with verb tenses for the first time, an ESL learner aiming for fluency, a teacher designing a lesson plan, or a candidate preparing for competitive exams like the IELTS or TOEFL, this comprehensive resource is designed for you.
This article will deconstruct the Past Continuous tense, also known as the Past Progressive, from its fundamental definition and structure to its most nuanced applications. We will explore its five primary functions, compare it head-to-head with other past tenses, demystify the rules of stative verbs, and provide a wealth of examples and interactive exercises to solidify your understanding. By the end of this guide, you will not only master the mechanics of the tense but also appreciate its power to paint vivid pictures of the past.
I. The Past Continuous: Definition and Concepts
Before diving into complex rules and uses, it is essential to establish a clear and intuitive understanding of what the Past Continuous tense is and what it accomplishes. This section lays the foundational concepts that will support all subsequent learning.
The Past Continuous Tense (also known as the Past Progressive Tense) is used to describe an action that was ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the past. It essentially tells us what someone was doing at a particular past moment or over a period in the past.
Breakdown:
Form:
- Subject + was/were + verb-ing (present participle)
- I/He/She/It was working
- You/We/They were working
When to use it:
- To describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past:
- At 8 PM last night, I (The TV watching started before 8 PM and continued after.)
- Yesterday at noon, they were having lunch.
- To describe an ongoing action that was interrupted by another shorter action:
- I was taking a shower when the phone rang. (The shower was ongoing; the phone ringing interrupted it.)
- She was studying when her friends arrived.
- To describe two or more actions happening simultaneously in the past:
- While I was cooking, my brother was playing video games.
- He was listening to music while he was cleaning his room.
- To set the scene or provide background information in a story:
- The sun was shining, and the birds were singing as she walked through the park.
It focuses on the duration or progress of an action at a past moment, rather than its completion. It gives a “snapshot” of what was happening.
A. What is the Past Continuous Tense?
The Past Continuous tense is a verb form used to describe an action, event, or state that was ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. The key idea is that the action had already started before a particular moment and had not yet finished. It emphasizes the duration or continuity of a past activity.
For example, in the sentence “I was walking,” the action of walking was happening over a period of time in the past.
Authoritative sources define it with precision. The Cambridge Dictionary describes the Past Continuous as “the grammatical form used for an action that someone was doing or an event that was happening at a particular time”. Similarly, the Macmillan Dictionary refers to it as “the tense used to talk about actions or behaviour that were in progress at a particular time in the past”.
B. Past Continuous / Past Progressive: Are They Different?
One of the first points of potential confusion for learners is the terminology. You will encounter both “Past Continuous” and “Past Progressive” in textbooks, resources, and classrooms. It is important to understand that these two terms are completely interchangeable. They refer to the exact same verb tense.
The words “continuous” and “progressive” both effectively capture the essence of the tense: describing an action that is continuing or in progress. Whether you say “Past Continuous” or “Past Progressive,” you are talking about the same grammatical structure and function. This guide will use both terms to help you become familiar with them.
C. The Ongoing Past Action
Imagine a simple story told in the Simple Past tense: “Yesterday, I walked home from work. I listened to music. A car drove past me.” This is a sequence of completed events, like a list of scenes.
Now, let’s use the Past Continuous to pause the movie at a specific moment, say 7:00 PM, and describe the scene in detail:
“At 7:00 PM yesterday, I was walking home. The sun was setting, and a cool breeze was blowing. I was listening to my favorite album. A red car was driving slowly down the street.”
In this the Past Continuous doesn’t just list events; it paints a picture. It freezes a single moment in time (7:00 PM) and describes all the actions that were in progress within that frame. This “snapshot” ability is what makes the tense so powerful for setting the scene in storytelling and providing context for other events, a concept we will explore in depth later. This visualization helps clarify why the tense is fundamentally about providing a background against which other, often shorter, actions occur.
II. How Past Continuous Tense is Formed?
The Past Continuous has a consistent and logical two-part formula that, once learned, is easy to apply across different sentences.
A. Was/were + verb-ing
The Past Continuous tense is always composed of two parts:
- The past tense of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’: This will be either was or were, depending on the subject of the sentence.
- The present participle of the main verb: This is the base form of the verb with an -ing ending (e.g., walking, eating, studying).
The basic formula can be expressed as:
Subject+was/were+Present Participle (verb+ing)
For example:
- She was reading a book.
- They were playing soccer.
B. Subject-Verb Agreement
A frequent source of error for learners is choosing the correct form of the verb ‘to be’. The rule for subject-verb agreement in the Past Continuous is straightforward and must be followed precisely.
- Use was with singular subjects:
- First-person singular: I (e.g., I was working.)
- Third-person singular: he, she, it, and any singular noun (e.g., He was sleeping., The dog was barking.).
- Use were with plural subjects and with ‘you’:
- Second-person singular and plural: you (e.g., You were listening.)
- First-person plural: we (e.g., We were eating.)
- Third-person plural: they, and any plural noun (e.g., They were studying., The children were playing.).
C. Constructing Sentences: Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative
The basic formula can be adapted to create affirmative (positive) statements, negative statements, and various types of questions. The following table provides a clear, at-a-glance reference for all sentence structures.
| Sentence Type | Formula | Example Sentences |
| Affirmative | Subject + was/were + verb-ing | I was working. He was sleeping. They were playing. |
| Negative | Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing | I was not (wasn’t) working. He was not (wasn’t) sleeping. They were not (weren’t) playing. |
| Yes/No Question | Was/Were + Subject + verb-ing? | Was I working? Was he sleeping? Were they playing? |
| WH-Question | WH-Word + was/were + Subject + verb-ing? | What was I doing? Why was he sleeping? Where were they playing? |
| Negative Question | Wasn’t/Weren’t + Subject + verb-ing? | Wasn’t he sleeping?Weren’t they playing? |
D. Spelling the -ing Form: Rules and Exceptions
Correctly forming the present participle (-ing form) is essential. While most verbs simply take -ing, there are a few key spelling rules to remember.
- Rule 1: Most Verbs
- For the majority of verbs, simply add -ing to the base form.
- Examples: talk → talking, sleep → sleeping, go → going.
- Rule 2: Verbs Ending in a Silent -e
- If the verb ends in a single, silent -e, drop the -e before adding -ing.
- Examples: live → living, make → making, write → writing.
- Exception: Verbs ending in -ee just add -ing (e.g., see → seeing, agree → agreeing).
- Rule 3: Verbs Ending in CVC
- For one-syllable verbs that end in a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant pattern, double the final consonant before adding -ing.
- Examples: stop → stopping, run → running, get → getting.
- Note: Do not double the final consonant if it is w, x, or y (e.g., fix → fixing, enjoy → enjoying).
- Rule 4: Verbs Ending in -ie
- If a verb ends in -ie, change the -ie to y before adding -ing.
- Examples: die → dying, lie → lying, tie → tying.
- Rule 5: Multi-Syllable Verbs
- For verbs with two or more syllables ending in CVC, you only double the final consonant if the stress is on the final syllable.
- Examples: begin (be-GIN) → beginning, admit (ad-MIT) → admitting.
- If the stress is on the first syllable, you do not double the consonant.
- Examples: happen (HAP-pen) → happening, listen (LIS-ten) → listening.
III. When to Use the Past Continuous?
Understanding the structure is only half the battle. The true mastery of the Past Continuous tense lies in knowing when and why to use it. This tense has several distinct functions that bring clarity and context to past events. While these functions may seem separate, they all stem from a single main purpose: to provide the background context or temporal frame for past events. Instead of memorizing disparate rules, understanding this unifying principle allows for a more intuitive grasp of the tense.
A. Function 1: Interrupted Actions in the Past (The Main Event)
This is the most common and fundamental use of the Past Continuous tense. It describes a longer, ongoing action that was interrupted by a shorter, more sudden action.
- The longer, background action is put in the Past Continuous.
- The shorter, interrupting action is put in the Simple Past.
The two clauses are often connected by words like when or while.
- Examples:
- “I was watching television when the fire started.”
- “Kazim was playing when he broke his leg.”
- “They were waiting for the bus when the accident happened.”
In each case, the Past Continuous sets the scene (was watching, was playing, were waiting), and the Simple Past introduces the key event that occurred within that scene (started, broke, happened).
B. Function 2: Parallel Actions – Two Things Happening at Once
The Past Continuous is perfect for describing two or more actions that were happening simultaneously over the same period in the past. This creates a sense of parallel activity. The conjunction
while is commonly used to connect these actions.
- Examples:
- “I was studying while he was making dinner.”
- “While John was cooking dinner, Mary was cleaning the house.”
- “Mercy was studying while her mom was cooking breakfast.”
Both clauses use the Past Continuous to show that the actions were in progress at the same time.
C. Function 3: Setting the Scene – Painting a Picture in Stories
In narrative writing, the Past Continuous is an essential tool for setting the scene and establishing the atmosphere before the main plot begins. It allows the writer to pause and describe the background details, creating a vivid world for the reader.
- Example:”The sun was shining and the birds were walking as the elephant came out of the jungle. The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved very quickly. She was looking for her baby, and she didn’t notice the hunter who was watching her through his binoculars.”
This passage masterfully uses the Past Continuous (was shining, were walking, were relaxing, was looking, was watching) to create the background environment, against which the main actions in the Simple Past (came, moved, didn’t notice) unfold.
D. Function 4: Action at a Specific Time in the Past
This function is used to state that an action was in progress at a precise moment in the past. It answers the question, “What were you doing at?”
- Examples:
- “At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.”
- “Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.”
- “What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying.”
It is important to distinguish this from the Simple Past.
- “At 6 PM, I was eating dinner.” This means the act of eating started before 6 PM and was in progress at that moment.
- “At 6 PM, I ate dinner.” This means the act of eating began exactly at 6 PM.
E. Function 5: Repeated Actions and Expressing Annoyance
While the Simple Past is typically used for past habits, the Past Continuous can be used with adverbs like always, constantly, and forever to describe a repeated action that was characteristic of a person, often with a tone of annoyance or criticism.
- Examples:
- “She was always coming to class late.” (This implies it was an irritating habit.)
- “My boss was constantly calling me in my last job. I hated it.”
- “David was always complaining about something.”
This usage adds an emotional layer that the Simple Past (“He always complained”) might not convey as strongly.
IV. Special Uses
Beyond its core functions, the Past Continuous has several special uses that add sophistication and subtlety to communication. These are particularly important for advanced learners.
A. Making Polite Requests: “I was wondering if…”
One of the most useful pragmatic functions of the Past Continuous is to make polite and indirect requests in the present or for the future. Using verbs like
wonder, hope, or think in the Past Continuous softens the request, making it sound less demanding.
- Examples:
- “I was wondering if you could baby-sit for me tonight.”
- “I was hoping you would help me with my homework.”
- “I was thinking we could watch a movie.”
This construction creates a degree of social distance. Instead of a direct command (“Help me”) or a direct question (“Can you help me?”), it frames the request as a thought that was occurring in the past, which makes it feel less imposing on the listener.
B. The Passive Voice
The Past Continuous can be formed in the passive voice to show that an ongoing action was being done to the subject. This is common in formal, academic, and reportorial writing where the focus is on the action itself, not who performed it.
- Formula: Subject + was/were + being + Past Participle
- Examples:
- A panel of experts was reviewing the report.
- “The report was being reviewed by a panel of experts.”
- The staff was serving the guests when a fire broke out in the kitchen.
- “The guests were being served when a fire broke out in the kitchen.”
- Thieves were robbing the bank when the police arrived on the scene.
- “The bank was being robbed when the police arrived on the scene.”
C. Expressing a Change of Mind: “I was going to…”
This idiomatic structure is used to talk about a past intention or plan that was not fulfilled because the speaker changed their mind or circumstances changed.
- Structure: was/were going to + base verb
- Example:
- “I was going to spend the day at the beach, but I’ve decided to get my homework done instead.”
This is a very common phrase in spoken English and is useful for explaining decisions and changes in plans.
V. Past Continuous vs. Other Tenses
One of the best ways to solidify your understanding of the Past Continuous is to compare it directly with other tenses. The subtle differences in meaning that arise from choosing one tense over another are at the heart of grammatical precision.
A. Past Continuous vs. Past Simple
This is the most important distinction for any learner to master. The choice between these two tenses can fundamentally alter the timeline and meaning of a sentence. The core difference lies in their perspective on a past action: the Past Continuous views an action as an ongoing process, while the Simple Past views it as a completed, single event.
The following table provides a head-to-head comparison:
| Feature | Past Continuous | Simple Past |
| Main Function | Describes an ongoing, unfinished, or background action in the past. | Describes a completed, finished, or sequential action in the past. |
| Timeline Example | “When the guests arrived, Jane was cooking.” (The cooking started before the arrival and was in progress). | “When the guests arrived, Jane cooked.” (The arrival happened first, then she started cooking). |
| Storytelling Role | Sets the scene; describes the background. | Narrates the main events; moves the plot forward. |
| Signal Words | while, as, at 8 PM | yesterday, last week, then, first, after |
| Example Sentence | “I was cycling home when I fell.” (Longer background action interrupted by a shorter event). | “I cycled home and then I fell.” (Two separate, completed actions in sequence). |
This comparison reveals that the tenses are not interchangeable; they offer two different ways to frame past events. The Past Continuous provides the context, and the Simple Past provides the action.
B. Past Continuous vs. Present Continuous
This comparison is simpler because it primarily involves a shift in the time frame. Both tenses use the same structure (be + -ing) to describe an ongoing action, but their temporal anchor is different.
- Present Continuous: The action is in progress now, at the moment of speaking.
- Example: “I am teaching you English right now.“
- Past Continuous: The action was in progress at a specific point in the past.
- Example: “I was teaching English at this time yesterday.”
The underlying concept of a continuous, unfinished action remains the same; only the point of reference changes from the present to the past.
C. Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous
This is a more advanced distinction, often confusing for higher-level learners. Both tenses describe continuous actions in the past, but they relate to a past reference point differently.
- Past Continuous (was/were + -ing): Describes an action that was in progress at the same time as another past event.
- Example: “I was reading when my father came home.” (The reading was happening at the moment he arrived).
- Past Perfect Continuous (had been + -ing): Describes an action that was in progress before another past event, often emphasizing the duration or showing a cause for the later event.
- Example: “I had been reading for two hours when my father came home.” (The reading happened for a duration before he arrived, setting a context for his arrival).
A useful distinction is that with the Past Continuous, the ongoing action may or may not stop when the second event occurs. With the Past Perfect Continuous, the ongoing action often stops or changes as a result of the second event.
- Past Continuous: “The cat was napping when he came home.” (The cat might have continued sleeping).
- Past Perfect Continuous: “The cat had been napping when he came home.” (This implies the cat then woke up).
VI. Stative Verbs and Signal Words
To use the Past Continuous tense accurately, one must understand two key constraints: which verbs can be used in this form and which words signal its use.
A. Stative vs. Dynamic Verbs: Verbs You Can’t Make Continuous
Not all verbs can be used in continuous tenses. English verbs can be broadly categorized into two types: dynamic and stative
- Dynamic Verbs: Describe actions or processes (e.g., run, eat, work, play). These verbs have a clear beginning and end and can be used in all tenses, including the Past Continuous.
- Stative (or State) Verbs: Describe a state, condition, feeling, or sense rather than an action (e.g., know, believe, love, own).
The rule is that stative verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses. This isn’t an arbitrary rule but a logical one. The continuous aspect describes an action in progress, with a duration and potential for change. A state, by its very nature, does not “progress”—it simply exists. Saying “
I was knowing the answer” is grammatically awkward because the state of ‘knowing’ is static; it doesn’t happen over time in the same way an action like ‘running’ does. Instead, you must use the Simple Past: “I knew the answer”.
Common categories of stative verbs include:
- Mental/Cognitive States: believe, know, understand, remember, realize, doubt.
- Emotional States: love, like, hate, prefer, want, need.
- Senses: see, hear, smell, taste, seem, sound.
- Possession: have, own, possess, belong.
- Other States: be, cost, weigh, consist of, involve.
Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic, depending on their meaning in the sentence:
- think:
- Stative (opinion): “I thought you were right.” (Not: I was thinking)
- Dynamic (mental process): “I was thinking about the problem when you called.”
- have:
- Stative (possession): “He had a dog.” (Not: He was having a dog)
- Dynamic (part of an expression/action): “He was having a party.” / “I was having a good time.”
- taste:
- Stative (quality of something): “The soup tasted great.” (Not: was tasting)
- Dynamic (action of tasting): “The chef was tasting the soup.”
B. Time Expressions and Signal Words
Certain words and phrases frequently accompany the Past Continuous tense and can serve as useful signals for when to use it.
- Conjunctions for Interrupted and Parallel Actions:
- When: Often introduces the short, interrupting action in the Simple Past (e.g., “I was studying when she called.”).
- While: Typically introduces the longer, ongoing action in the Past Continuous, especially for parallel actions (e.g., “While I was studying, she was watching TV.”).
- As: Can be used similarly to while to link two ongoing actions (e.g., “As I was driving home, it was raining.”).
- Specific Time References: These phrases pinpoint the moment when the action was in progress.
- Examples: at 5 PM yesterday, at that moment, at noon, this time last year, all morning, the whole day.
- Adverbs for Repeated Actions:
- Examples: always, constantly, continually, forever.
VII. Let’s Practice on Past Continuous Tense
Theoretical knowledge becomes practical skill through application. This section focuses on real-world usage, common pitfalls, and context-specific applications in storytelling, exams, and academic writing.
A. Common Mistakes for ESL Learners and How to Avoid Them
Even with a clear understanding of the rules, learners often make recurring mistakes. Being aware of these common errors is the first step to correcting them.
- Mistake 1: Using Past Continuous with Stative Verbs
- Incorrect: “I was wanting to go home.”
- Correct: “I wanted to go home.”
- How to Avoid: Memorize the most common stative verbs and remember that they describe states, not actions.
- Mistake 2: Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement
- Incorrect: “We was just talking about you.”
- Correct: “We were just talking about you.”
- How to Avoid: Drill the was (singular) vs. were (plural/you) rule until it becomes automatic.
- Mistake 3: Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb be
- Incorrect: “She walking on the beach when I saw her.”
- Correct: “She was walking on the beach when I saw her.”
- How to Avoid: Always remember the two-part formula: was/were + verb-ing. A verb ending in -ing alone cannot be the main verb of a sentence without a helper.
- Mistake 4: Confusing with Simple Past
- Incorrect: “I was finding out about the party from Dave yesterday.” (This was a single, completed event).
- Correct: “I found out about the party from Dave yesterday.”
- How to Avoid: Ask yourself: Is this a background action or a main, completed event? If it’s the main event, use the Simple Past.
- Mistake 5: Using the Wrong Verb Form after the Auxiliary
- Incorrect: “He was drove to the store.”
- Correct: “He was driving to the store.”
- How to Avoid: The auxiliary was/were must always be followed by the present participle (-ing form), never the past simple or past participle form.
B. Application in Storytelling and Narrative Writing
The Past Continuous is the lifeblood of vivid storytelling. Writers use it strategically to control the narrative’s pace, build suspense, and immerse the reader in a scene. By describing what was happening before an important event, a writer can create anticipation.
- Example of Building Suspense:”It was getting dark. A cold wind was howling through the trees. I was walking quickly, hoping to get home before the storm broke. Suddenly, I heard a strange noise behind me.”
The Past Continuous clauses build a tense atmosphere. The final sentence, in the Simple Past, delivers the dramatic interruption that hooks the reader.
C. Usage in IELTS & TOEFL with Sample Questions
In speaking exams like the IELTS and TOEFL, examiners often ask questions designed to elicit a range of tenses. Being able to use the Past Continuous naturally and accurately can significantly improve your score.
- Speaking Questions:
- “What were you doing at this time last Saturday?”
- “Describe a time you were traveling and something unexpected happened.”
- “What were you working on at your job/school last Friday?”
- Sample High-Scoring Answer:Question: “Tell me about a memorable event from your childhood.”
Answer: “I remember one winter afternoon very clearly. It was snowing heavily, and my brother and I were building a snowman in the garden. We were laughing and throwing snowballs while our mother was watching us from the kitchen window. Suddenly, our dog ran outside and jumped right into our snowman, knocking it over! We were upset for a moment, but then we all started laughing.”
This answer effectively uses the Past Continuous to set the scene (was snowing, were building, were laughing, was watching) and the Simple Past for the main events (ran, jumped).
D. Usage in Formal and Academic Writing
In academic writing, the Simple Past and Present Perfect are the most common tenses. The Past Continuous is used less frequently because it can sometimes convey a more informal or narrative tone. However, it has a specific and important role: providing background context for a past event or finding.
- Example:
- “The research team was analyzing the data when an anomaly appeared in the results.”
- “The country was still recovering from the recession when the new policy was introduced.”
It is used to position events in relation to one another, showing what process was underway when a key event occurred. While it should be used more sparingly than in creative writing, it is a valuable tool for creating a clear historical or procedural context.
VIII. Test Your Knowledge: Interactive Exercises
The best way to consolidate your learning is through practice. Work through these exercises to test your understanding of the Past Continuous tense. An answer key with explanations follows.
A. Section A: Fill-in-the-Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct Past Continuous form of the verb in parentheses.
- The children ____________ (play) hide and seek in the park.
- I ____________ (read) the book you gave me when you called.
- At 8 PM last night, we ____________ (watch) a movie.
- He ____________ (not / work) in his study when the murder happened.
- What ____________ (you / do) at this time yesterday?
- The dogs ____________ (bark) all night.
- She ____________ (not / listen) while the teacher was explaining the rule.
- My sister ____________ (drive) her car when I called her.
- ____________ (it / rain) when you left the house?
- They ____________ (travel) to London at three o’clock.
B. Section B: Simple Past or Past Continuous?
Choose the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Continuous) for the verbs in parentheses.
- I ____________ (sit) in a cafe when you ____________ (call).
- Susie ____________ (watch) a film when she ____________ (hear) the noise.
- We ____________ (play) tennis when John ____________ (hurt) his ankle.
- He ____________ (take) a shower when the telephone ____________ (ring).
- When I ____________ (walk) into the room, everyone ____________ (work).
- The mail ____________ (arrive) very late today; it ____________ (come) after eleven o’clock.
- She ____________ (cook) dinner when the guests ____________ (arrive).
- I ____________ (not / answer) your call because I ____________ (work).
- He ____________ (drive) very fast when he ____________ (have) the accident.
- While I ____________ (study) in my room, my roommate ____________ (have) a party in the other room.
C. Section C: Sentence Transformation
Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions.
- Affirmative to Negative: They were eating at the restaurant.
→ __________________________________________________ - Affirmative to Question: She was stitching her new dress.
→ __________________________________________________ - Simple Past to Past Continuous: The dog barked all night. (Use the time phrase “all night”)
→ __________________________________________________ - Affirmative to WH-Question: He was driving to work. (Ask “Where?”)
→ __________________________________________________ - Two Simple Past sentences to one complex sentence: I cooked dinner. The phone rang. (Use “when”)
→ __________________________________________________
D. Classroom and Self-Study Activities
- The Alibi (Legal defense) Game: Imagine a minor “crime” has been committed (e.g., the last cookie was stolen from the jar at 4 PM yesterday). With a partner, create an alibi. You must both say what you were doing together at 4 PM. Then, answer questions separately. If your stories don’t match, you’re caught! This is a classic TEFL game that perfectly practices the tense.
- Picture Description: Find a busy picture online (a park, a market, a festival). Look at it for one minute, then close it. Try to write down or say as many sentences as you can describing what the people were doing in the picture. For example: “A man was buying fruit. Two children were playing near a fountain.”.
E. Answer Key with Explanations
Section A: Fill-in-the-Blanks
- were playing
- was reading
- were watching
- was not (wasn’t) working
- were you doing
- were barking
- was not (wasn’t) listening
- was driving
- Was it raining
- were traveling
Section B: Simple Past or Past Continuous?
- was sitting, called (The longer action of sitting was interrupted by the call).
- was watching, heard (The ongoing action of watching was interrupted by hearing the noise).
- were playing, hurt (The game was in progress when the injury happened).
- was taking, rang (The shower was the background action for the phone ringing).
- walked, was working (When I entered—a short action—the work was already in progress).
- arrived, came (Both are completed actions in a sequence).
- was cooking, arrived (The cooking was in progress when the guests arrived).
- didn’t answer, was working (The reason for not answering was the ongoing action of working).
- was driving, had (The driving was the background action during which the accident occurred).
- was studying, was having (Two parallel actions happening at the same time).
Section C: Sentence Transformation
- They were not (weren’t) eating at the restaurant.
- Was she stitching her new dress?
- The dog was barking all night.
- Where was he driving?
- I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
