Past continuous

The point

Was or were plus -ing is an action in progress at a past moment, often when a shorter action happened. She was working when I called. The shorter action is past simple.

Form and use

The past continuous is was or were plus an -ing form. It names an action that was already in progress at a past moment. I, he, she, and it take was. You, we, and they take were. The -ing form is required. Was work and were read are not finished forms.

Read the full set. I was working. You were working. He was working. She was working. We were working. They were working. I was not working. You were not working. He was not working. Was I working? Were you working? Was she working? Yes, I was. No, I was not. Yes, they were. No, he was not.

Three uses sit on this form. First, it paints the background of a past scene: at eight I was reading. Second, a shorter action can cut into it. Use when plus the past simple for that short action: she was working when I called. Third, two longer actions can run together. Use while between them: I was reading while she was writing.

Do not use the past continuous for a single finished act. She called is the short event. She was calling is the action already open. Was and were must match the subject. They were reading, not they was reading. The negative places not after was or were, and the question places was or were before the subject.

Don't translate it like this

Was plus the -ing form.

Short examples