The past continuous (was / were + -ing)
An action in progress in the past, and the interrupted action.
Form: was / were + verb + -ing. It describes an action in progress at a moment in the past.
- I was reading when the phone rang.long action (was reading) interrupted by a short one (rang)
- At 8 pm yesterday, we were having dinner.in progress at a specific time
- It was raining, so we stayed home.background description
Test yourself
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Complete: I (walk) home when I (see) him.
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I was walking home when I saw him. -
Correct: When I was little, I was living in Lyon every summer.
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When I was little, I lived / used to live in Lyon every summer. -
Complete: He (sleep) when I (arrive).
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was sleeping / arrived -
Correct: I wasn't knowing.
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I didn't know.