teachbut.gif (2985 bytes) Past Continuous

I was sleeping. I wasn't We were sleeping. We weren't
He was sleeping. He wasn't You were sleeping. You weren't
She was sleeping. She wasn't They were sleeping. They weren't
It was sleeping. It wasn't sleeping.

A Specific Time in the Past

The Past Continuous is used to express an event in progress at some specific time in the past.

I was eating at 8:00 this morning.

She was cooking in the afternoon.

Background to Events

The Past Continuous is also used to give background
to past events.

I lost my wallet while I was jogging.    I was eating when you called.

Short Answers

Was I sleeping? Yes, I was. No, I wasn't.
Was he sleeping? Yes, he was. No, he wasn't.
Was she sleeping? Yes, she was. No, she wasn't.
Was it sleeping? Yes, it was. No, it wasn't.
Were we sleeping? Yes, we were. No, we weren't.
Were you sleeping? Yes, you were. No, you weren't.
Were they sleeping? Yes, they were. No, they weren't.

Practice Dialog

Practice the dialog with a friend.

A:    What are you doing?
B:    I'm warming up dinner in the microwave.
A:    I thought you already warmed it up.
B:    I did. But while I was warming it up my wife called. 
It got cold so I'm warming it up again.

[The Present Simple - The Present Continuous - The Present Perfect]
[Future - The Past Simple - The Past Continuous - The Past Perfect]