Past Continuous Form: Was/Were + -ing
Practice building the past continuous correctly: was vs were, spelling rules for -ing (running, writing, dying), and questions and negatives.
-
He ___ at his desk when the phone rang.
Show answer
was working
Past continuous for an action in progress when something happened — 'was working'.
-
They ___ to the radio in the kitchen.
Show answer
were listening
Use 'were' with they — 'they were listening'.
-
She ___ TV at 8 o'clock yesterday evening.
Show answer
was watching
Past continuous for an action in progress at a specific time.
-
What were you ___ when I called?
Show answer
doing
After 'were', use the -ing form of the main verb — 'were you doing'.
-
___ they sleeping when you arrived home?
Show answer
Were
Use 'were' with they in past continuous questions.
-
At eight o'clock last night, we ___ dinner.
Show answer
were having
Past continuous for an action in progress at a specific past time.
-
We ___ in the park when it started to rain.
Show answer
were running
'Run' has a short vowel + consonant — double the n: 'running'.
-
He ___ in the river when I called him.
Show answer
was swimming
'Swim' has a short vowel + consonant — double the m: 'swimming'.
-
At three o'clock, the children ___ in the garden.
Show answer
were playing
Past continuous for an action in progress at a specific past time.
-
She ___ at her desk when I came in.
Show answer
was writing
'Write' ends in -e — drop the e and add -ing: 'writing'.
-
The plant ___ from lack of water when I finally remembered it.
Show answer
was dying
Verbs ending in -ie change -ie to -ying: 'dying'.
-
There ___ children playing in the park when we walked past.
Show answer
were
'Children' is plural, so use 'were' — 'there were children'.
Past Continuous Form: Was/Were + -ing
The past continuous combines was or were with the -ing form of the main verb. Choosing between 'was' and 'were' follows the same subject rule as the simple past of 'be': was with I, he, she, it; were with you, we, they. The main verb then needs the correct -ing spelling, which follows three predictable rules that trip learners up more than the was/were choice itself.
Was or Were?
They were listening to the radio in the kitchen.
Were they sleeping when you arrived home? (question)
Spelling the -ing Form
Verbs with a single vowel followed by a single consonant double the final consonant before -ing: run → running, swim → swimming. Verbs ending in a silent -e drop it: write → writing. Verbs ending in -ie change to -ying: die → dying.
She was writing at her desk when I came in. (drop the e)
The plant was dying from lack of water. (-ie → -ying)
Common Mistakes
✗ She was writeing at her desk. → ✓ She was writing at her desk.
✗ The plant was dieing. → ✓ The plant was dying.
Last updated: · Satori Editorial