grammar · neutral

subject + was/were + V-ing

Band 4-5speakingtask2

Past continuous: an action in progress at a specific time in the past, or a background action interrupted by another event.

Examples

“While I was studying, my sister called me.”

“At 8 pm last night they were having dinner.”

“She was reading when the lights went out.”

Band 8 sentence

“While the committee members were discussing the proposal, new evidence emerged that changed their view.”

Collocations

  • was/were + V-ing + when + past simple
  • at + time phrase + was/were + V-ing

Common mistakes

I studied when the phone rang.→I was studying when the phone rang.

They was playing football.→They were playing football.

Say it for a higher band

5subject + V2 (past simple)→6used to + base verb→7+subject + was/were + V-ing

Synonyms

past simple (for a finished action)

Easily confused

subject + V2 (past simple)

“I watched TV at 9 o'clock last night.”

Related words

have / has + past participlesubject + V(s) (simple present)be about to + base verbbe + V-ingso + adjective/adverb + that + clauseIf + present perfect, will + base verbNot only + clause, but also + clausewill have been + V-ing

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In Tenses

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