Complete Grammar Syllabus (145 Units)

Grammar Mastery

Comprehensive reference, real-world IELTS band-boosting tips, clear structural formulas, and interactive short quizzes for intermediate to advanced English learners.

Past Continuous (I was doing)

Used for actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past, background situations, or actions interrupted by past simple.

Core Structure & Formula

Positive: Subject + was/were + verb-ing (I was studying in Singapore)

Negative: Subject + wasn't/weren't + verb-ing (She wasn't paying attention)

Interrupted Action: Past Continuous + when + Past Simple (I was presenting when the fire alarm rang)

AAction in the middle of happening in the past

At a particular past moment, the action had started but had not finished.

•This time last year I was studying for my final exams in Singapore.

•What were you doing at 10 o'clock last night?

•I waved to the tour guide, but she wasn't looking.

BPast Continuous combined with Past Simple

Past continuous provides the long background action; past simple represents the short action that happened in the middle.

•The professor called while we were discussing the project.

•It was snowing heavily when I landed at the airport.

•I strained my back while I was carrying the luggage upstairs.

•Compare: When the inspector arrived, we were reviewing the safety report (the review had started before). vs When the inspector arrived, we reviewed the safety report (the review started after arrival).

Past Continuous vs Past Simple

Past Continuous (In progress)

✓We were walking to the station when I met an old classmate. (= in the middle of walking)
✓Nadia was reading a research paper when the power went out.

Past Simple (Complete action)

✓We walked to the station after the meeting last night. (= completed entire journey)
✓Nadia read the whole research paper when she was preparing for her exam last year.

IELTS Band 7–9 Exam Impact

Great for narrative variety and complex sentence structures in IELTS Speaking Part 2 stories.

Common Candidate Errors

✗ When I arrived, they had dinner.

✓ When I arrived, they were having dinner.

If they were already in the middle of eating when you arrived, use past continuous.

Unit 6 Interactive Short Quiz

Test your understanding with 3 verified practice exercises.

Question 1 of 3

The interviewer ______ for me when I arrived at the office.

Question 2 of 3

I was walking through the campus when suddenly I ______ my name being called.

Question 3 of 3

The photographer took a picture of me while I ______ .