I was reading a book.
- Language
- English
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Verb Tenses
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
The past continuous is a tense in English used to talk about actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.
When to use it
Use the past continuous to describe an action that was in progress at a certain time in the past, or when another action interrupted it.
Key forms
- was/were + verb-ing
- I was eating.
- They were playing.
Examples
She was cooking dinner at 7 pm.
They were watching TV when I arrived.
We were walking to school.
Tips
- Remember to use 'was' with I/he/she/it and 'were' with you/we/they.
- Don't forget the '-ing' ending on the main verb.
- Use the past continuous for background actions, and the simple past for short or interrupting actions.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs (like 'know', 'believe', 'love') are not usually used in continuous forms.
Word of the Day
Today's hand-picked vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation page for English. Bookmark this section — it refreshes every day.
Get one new word every morning
Subscribe to SmartWords daily picks. Choose the topics you want — we send one short email per day.
Keep exploring
Play SmartWords games
Six word games built around our real vocabulary — free in the browser, no install.
Open the game hub →-
Word Sling
Match the center word under time pressure and keep the combo alive.
Play now → -
Word Gate
Fly through the correct gate before the speed ramps up.
Play now → -
Word Ninja
Slice the goal-language words, avoid the main-language decoy, and chase the announced bonus target.
Play now → -
Word Zip
Trace a single path across the board, hit each letter anchor in order, and fill every open cell.
Play now → -
Word Oddity
Pick the word that doesn't belong from a topic-driven set — every tap reveals all four meanings and images so the round becomes a flash-card too.
Play now → -
Word Memory
Flip and match goal-language words to their main-language meaning before your lives run out.
Play now →