Past Continuous

was/were + -ing for actions in progress in the past.

Examples

• I was sleeping at 10.
• They were talking.

Key rules

• Form: was/were + verb-ing
• Use it for actions in progress at a past moment: I was sleeping at 10
• Use it for background or two simultaneous past actions
• Negative and questions use was/were

Common mistakes

• I was sleep → I was sleeping
• They was playing → They were playing