Past Continuous Tense

was/were not + verb(-ing)

did not + verb

was/were + verb-ed

is/are not + verb(-ing)

was making

is making

has made

made

Past Simple describes ongoing actions, while Past Continuous describes completed actions.

Past Simple describes completed actions, while Past Continuous describes ongoing actions in the past.

Past Simple is used for future actions, while Past Continuous is used for present actions.

Past Simple and Past Continuous are interchangeable in all contexts.

Use 'was' + verb(-ing)

Use 'were' + verb(-ing)

Use 'are' + verb(-ing)

Use 'have' + verb(-ing)

Common time expressions include 'yesterday,' 'at that time,' and 'when.'

Time expressions are not used with Past Continuous.

You can only use 'now' with Past Continuous.

Past Continuous does not require any time expressions.

were making

are making

made

make

were talking.

are talking.

talked.

will talk.

Use 'is' + verb(-ing)

Use 'was' + verb(-ing)

Use 'were' + verb(-ing)

Use 'has been' + verb(-ing)

To describe actions that were happening at a specific time in the past or to set the scene in a story.

To indicate a completed action in the past.

To express future intentions.

To describe habitual actions in the past.

weren't

were

are

was