They WERE PLAYING

tennis at 11.40 yesterday.

 Form: was / were + V-ing
(+) was/were + vb-ing
I was studying English.
(-) was/were + not + vb-ing
I was not studying English.

(?) was/were + subject + vb-ing?

Were you studying English? Yes, I was//No, I wasn’t.
Where were you studying English? I was studying
English at home.
Use:
1.- Actions in progress at a particular
time in the past
He was watching TV at 8 pm yesterday.

He started watching TV before 8 pm yesterday. At 8

pm, he was in the middle of watching TV. He continued
watching TV after 8 pm.

YESTERDAY

at 7 pm at 8 pm at 9 pm
What were you doing this time
last night?

I was working on my computer.

2.- Two actions in progress happening at
the same time in the past.

At 1.15 pm, Sarah was

listening to music and her
brother was studying.

The actions are simultaneous.

The teacher was talking
and the students were
listening.
While the childrenwere playing in the park,
Sarah was reading a book.
Time expressions:
1.- AT + time, this time yesterday, this
time last night, all afternoon…

This time yesterday

afternoon, they were not sitting
in the park.

They were sleepingat twelve o’clock

last night.
 Past Simple vs. Past Continuous:

Actions that Actions in progress

started and at a specific time in
finished in the the past. (UNFINISHED
past. (COMPLETED ACTION)
ACTION)

She was playing the

She played the
drums at twenty-five to
drums at the age of two testerday.
ten.
Past Simple + Past Continuous

Short sudden action that Long action in progress

interrupts another action. interrupted by another
action.

When Mary arrived, they were having dinner.

Past Simple + Past Continuous
WHEN + Simple Past

He was posting the letter when

he saw an accident.

WHILE // AS + Past Continuous

While he was posting the letter,

he saw an accident.
 When I got up this morning, the
sun was shining.

Davidfell while he was

rollerblading.
 When Tom found a treasure,
he was walking on the beach.

While my little brother was

driving home, he had an
accident.