Form of the Past Continuous

How do we form the Past Continuous?

We use a form of to be (was or were), the infinitive and the ending –ing.

to be (was or were) + infinitive + –ing

1. Affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous

• I was playing football.
• You were playing football.
• He was playing football.
• She was playing football.
• It was playing football.
• We were playing football.
• You were playing football.
• They were playing football.

► Use was with I, he, she, it – and were with all other pronouns.

2. Negative sentences in the Past Continuous

• I was not playing football.
• You were not playing football.
• He was not playing football.
• She was not playing football.
• It was not playing football.
• We were not playing football.
• You were not playing football.
• They were not playing football.

Short/contracted forms in the Past Continuous