How to use the past continuous tense, English Grammar

The past continuous tense is used to describe a past action that was ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb "to be" in the past tense (either "was" or "were") followed by the present participle form of the main verb (ending in -ing).

How to use the past continuous tense

Here are some examples of the past continuous tense in action:

• "I was studying for my exam all night." (The action of studying was ongoing in the past.)
• "They were playing tennis when it started raining." (The action of playing tennis was ongoing when the rain started.)
• "She was driving home when she saw the accident." (The action of driving was ongoing when she saw the accident.)

In addition to describing ongoing actions in the past, the past continuous tense can also be used to describe two simultaneous past actions. In this case, it is often used in conjunction with the past simple tense.

 Here's an example:

• "I was cooking dinner while he was setting the table." (Both actions were ongoing at the same time in the past.)

Overall, the past continuous tense is a useful tool for describing ongoing or simultaneous past actions in a clear and concise way.