We use the past continuous to

describe an interrupted
activity which continued for a
period in the past and to talk
about things happening for a
continuous period in the past.

to say that somebody was

in the middle of doing
something

He was playing computer

games.

for two things happening at

the same time

He was playing computer

games while she was
watching TV.

for things you were in the

middle of doing when
another thing happened

He was watching TV
when Tom arrived.

We form the past continuous

tense with the helping verb
was/were + present participle
(V1 + -ing).

I
You
He
She
It

was
were
was
was
was

going
going
going
going
going

we were going
you were going
they were going

We form questions by
using the helping verb
was/were + subject +
present participle
(V1 + -ing).

Was I
Were you
Was he
Was she
Was it

going?
going?
going?
going?
going?

Were we going?
Were you going?
Were they going?

We form the negative with

the helping verb was/were +
not + present participle (V1
+ -ing).

I
You
He
She
It

was not going

we were not going
were not going you were not going
was not going they were not going
was not going
was not going