Ex. 1-Past Continuous: Introduction

Explanation

Affirmative Forms
Subject + was / were + verb-ing

Singular
I was working.
You were working.
He/She was working.
It was working.

Plural
We were working.
You were working.
They were working.

Negative Forms
Subject + was / were + not + verb-ing

Singular
I was not working.
You were not working.
He/She was not working.
It was not working.

Plural
We were not working.
You were not working.
They were not working.

Contractions
was not=wasn't; were not = weren't

He wasn't working. I wasn't working either.
You weren't working. Fred and Al weren't working either.

Use
1. Use the past continuous to show an action that was happening at a definite time in the past.
Edward: Where were you going yesterday when I saw you?
Bill: I was going to the store.

2. Use the past continuous and simple past to show the relationship of two or more past events. Use while, as, or when.

a) As I was thinking about this project, an idea occurred to me.
b) While the teacher was talking, the students were taking notes.
c) I saw some deer while I was hiking.

1. Angela (cook) lunch while her husband (cut) the grass.
2. I (listen) to the radio on my way home from work when I heard the weather report.
3. Last year at this time, I (not, live) in the apartment I'm in now.
4. Henry and Donna (hope) to pay off their house by the end of the year, but they realize now that they won't be able to.
5. Robert (think) about getting a new car but he decided not to.
6. What (you, do) last night when I called?
7. As the professor (talk) , the students (take) notes.
8. I (not, plan) to go anywhere last Saturday, but at the last minute I decided to go to Austin.
9. Paul (ask) a lot of questions after class because he didn't understand the lecture.
10. It (rain) when I got up this morning.
11. While I (get) ready to go to work, it stopped raining.
12. It's nice to talk to you. I (hope) you would call.