B1 Grammar: Past Continuous

B1 Grammar: Past Continuous
ESL Structure Curriculum

ESL Grammar Course

B1: Intermediate

A timeline showing a long action being interrupted by a short action

Past Continuous

The Past Continuous is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It’s often used to set the scene or to show that a longer action was interrupted by a shorter one.

Structure:

`subject + was/were + verb-ing`

⚠️ Attention: Common Challenges

1. Interrupted Actions: This is the most common use. The Past Continuous describes the longer, background action, and the Simple Past describes the shorter, interrupting action.

  • “I was watching TV when the phone rang.”

2. Parallel Actions: Use the Past Continuous with `while` to show two actions were happening at the same time.

  • “He was cooking dinner while I was setting the table.”

3. Setting the Scene: Use it to describe the background of a story.

  • “The sun was shining and the birds were singing.”

Practice Quiz

1. I was reading a book when the doorbell ____.

2. What ____ you ____ at 8 PM last night?

3. While my parents ____ TV, I was doing my homework.

4. It ____ when I left the house this morning.

5. He ____ his ankle while he was playing soccer.

6. The children ____ a lot of noise, so I couldn’t hear the phone.

7. At 3 o’clock yesterday, I ____ in a meeting.

8. She met her husband when she ____ in Paris.

9. They ____ about politics when I walked into the room.

10. I ____ my phone, so I didn’t see your message.