In this lesson from the free English grammar course from Simply IELTS, you will learn the structure and formula of the past continuous tense and how to use it in the IELTS exam.

What is the formula of the past continuous tense?

The past continuous tense is used to describe an action or event that was in progress at a specific time in the past.

It is formed with the auxiliary verb “was” or “were” followed by the present participle form of the main verb (the base form of the verb plus -ing).

Rules for using past continuous tense

Here are a few rules for using the past continuous tense:

1. Use “was” for subjects in the singular form (I, he, she, it) and “were” for subjects in the plural form (we, you, they).
2. Use the present participle form of the main verb (the base form plus -ing).
   For example: “I was working,” “she was studying,” “they were eating.”
3. Use the past continuous tense to describe an action or event that was in progress at a specific time in the past.
   For example: “I was cooking dinner at 6:00,” “she was watching TV at 7:00,” “they were sleeping at 8:00.”

Examples of the past continuous tense

Here are a few examples of the past continuous tense in action:

• I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
• She was studying for her exams when I saw her.
• They were eating lunch when the storm started.

In the negative form, the auxiliary verb “was” or “were” is followed by “not” and the present participle form of the main verb. For example:

• I was not cooking dinner when the phone rang.
• She was not studying for her exams when I saw her.
• They were not eating lunch when the storm started.

In the question form, the auxiliary verb “was” or “were” is placed before the subject and the present participle form of the main verb is placed after the subject. For example:

• Was I cooking dinner when the phone rang?
• Was she studying for her exams when I saw her?
• Were they eating lunch when the storm started?

How to use Past continuous tense in IELTS exam?

In the IELTS exam, you may be asked to use the past continuous tense to describe an action or event that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It is important to use this tense correctly and consistently in your writing and speaking tasks.

Here are a few tips for using the past continuous tense in the IELTS exam:

1. Use the correct form of the auxiliary verb “was” or “were”: Make sure to use the correct form of “was” or “were” based on the subject of the sentence. The correct forms are: “I was,” “you were,” “he/she/it was,” “we were,” “you were,” “they were.”
2. Use the present participle form of the main verb: After the auxiliary verb “was” or “were,” use the present participle form of the main verb (the base form plus -ing). For example: “I was working,” “she was studying,” “they were eating.”
3. Use the past continuous tense to describe an action or event that was in progress at a specific time in the past: Make sure to specify the time when the action or event was taking place. For example: “I was cooking dinner at 6:00,” “she was watching TV at 7:00,” “they were sleeping at 8:00.”
4. Make sure to use the correct verb tense: It is important to use the past continuous tense consistently in your writing and speaking tasks. Make sure not to mix tenses within a sentence or paragraph.

Here are a few examples of how you might use the past continuous tense in the IELTS exam:

Writing Task 1:

“At 7:00 yesterday evening, I was cooking dinner while my husband was watching TV. At 8:00, we were both relaxing on the couch when the power went out.”

Speaking Part 2:

“Last weekend, I was visiting my parents in the countryside. On Saturday morning, I was walking in the woods when I saw a deer. It was so beautiful and peaceful.”

Writing Task 2:

“Many people believe that technology is taking over our lives. While it is true that technology has become more prevalent in recent years, I do not think it is completely taking over. There are still many people who were living simple lives and not relying on technology as much as others.”