This tense is used when we speak of:
- Actions in progress in the past:
She was reading all night. - Two actions going on simultaneously:
While the owner was sleeping, the workers were making a noise.
Formulas & Examples
1. Affirmative (Positive)
Formula: Subject + was/were + V1 + ing + Object
- Those days I was composing a new melody.
- We were staying at a country cottage during the election campaign.
2. Negative
Formula: Subject + was/were + not + V1 + ing + Object
- They were not providing us with the proper information.
- Naresh was not feeling happy with his performance.
3. Interrogative Positive
Formula: W/H family + was/were + Subject + V1 + ing + Object + ?
- Why was Yasmin taking medicine?
- Was Anita going to the gym regularly in January?
4. Interrogative Negative
Formula: W/H family + was/were + Subject + not + V1 + ing + Object + ?
- Were Americans not participating in the wrestling championship?
- Why was John not taking an interest in his favourite cartoon series?
Reading Comprehension Passage
My Visit to Vietnam
One day I was passing through a crowded market in Vietnam. People were crying out their wares to drag the attention of the passersby. A woman was selling fish, another one was selling prawns, and a man was selling octopus babies—I was, in fact, passing through a seafood market. Small children were buying sizzlers from the peddlers and women were haggling for prices with various petty traders.
I was not at all enjoying my stroll since I am a hardcore vegetarian. My friend, who was from Goa, was busy eating different varieties of seafood. I was walking with wide steps to escape from that atmosphere. Suddenly, I saw a child sitting in a corner with sad eyes; his eyes were searching for someone. I went near him and lovingly caressed his head. He lifted his head to look at me. I smiled and he too smiled at me. I then realized he was holding a frying pan containing two little octopus babies and was looking for a customer to buy them!
Exercises
A. Answer the following questions in one line only:
- Where was the authoress passing through?
- What were the different people selling out there?
- Was the authoress enjoying her stroll? Why or why not?
- What was her friend doing?
- What was the child with sad eyes holding? Who was he searching for?
B. Edit the following sentences:
- Sudha were eating her favourite cheese sandwich when a... —> was
- Small boy come running towards her... —> ____________________
- He was beg for the sandwich which she... —> ____________________
- Was eating. She was not will to part with... —> ____________________
- It but the boy were looking very pale and... —> ____________________
- Thin so she gave it to him.
C. Rearrange the following words to form meaningful sentences:
- a. Nariman / point / for / was / I / waiting / you / at / .
- b. was / properly / providing / Ashim / not / the / information / .
- c. job / looking / anita / for / a / days / ? / Was / those
- d. visit / staying / agra / your / Where / were / during / last / to / ? / you
- e. He / sincerely / was / very / working / .
Word Power!
Test your vocabulary skills by finding the odd or unique words in these groups:
- Circle the uncommon word of the following group: Fish, Crab, Prawns, Chicken, Octopus.
- Circle the antonym out of the following group (which one means the opposite of resting/staying?): Stroll, Visit, Stay, Wander, Roaming.
- Circle the adjective out of the following set of adverbs: Quickly, Smartly, Elegant, Surely.
- Circle the abstract noun out of the following group: Girl, Fish, Child, Goa, Youth.
- Circle the uncommon word of the following group (plural rules): Women, Trees, Men, Teeth, Geese.
Writing Skills!
- Make meaningful sentences with the following words: Haggle, Hardcore, Caress, Realize.
- Write down your experience of some past visit to a crowded market using the Past Continuous Tense.
Ready to check your work?
Please try all the exercises before looking at the answers! 😉
Click here to view the complete Past Continuous Tense Answer Key
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