The past continuous tense represents an ongoing action of the past.
Here are some examples.
Past continuous tense examples
Examples of Affirmative sentences
Construction of an affirmative sentence for the past continuous tense:
Subject + was/were + ( –ing) + object.
Examples of past continuous tense:
- The sun was shining brightly
- We were having dinner when it started to rain.
- I was helping him to do the task.
- She was making breakfast when I woke up.
- While she was sleeping, someone took her phone.
- The sun was shining every day that month.
- I was wondering if you could open the door.
- She was always taking all my ideas.
- She was constantly talking in English classes these days.
Examples of negative sentences
Negative sentence construction for the past continuous tense:
Subject + was/were not + ( –ing) + object.
Examples of past continuous tense:
- I was not sleeping when you got home late last night.
- I was not writing a letter.
- They were not listening to her.
- She wasn’t coming to the party.
- He was not studying in the library.
- I was not sleeping when you got home late last night.
- He wasn’t watching a movie for two months.
- He was not traveling around the world.
- He was not eating food.
Examples of questions
Question construction for the past continuous tense:
Was / Were + subject + ( -ing) + object.
Examples of past continuous tense:
- What was she doing this time yesterday?
- Was I snoring tonight?
- What were you doing when he arrived?
- Was she studying all night?
- Were we eating a lot of sandwiches today?
- Were you doing your homework today?
Read the detailed article on the past continuous tense.
More examples of Past continuous sentences
More examples:
- 10 examples of Past Continuous Tense Sentences
- Adverbs of past continuous tense
- Past continuous tense examples
- Past continuous tense verbs