⇆ Set printer to double-sided before printing
Grammar Worksheet

Past Continuous: Interrupted Actions

A2–B1 was / were + -ing with past simple interruptions
Explanation

Use the past continuous for an action in progress at a time in the past.

Use the past simple for the shorter action that interrupted it.

Use while before the longer action and when before the shorter action.

Form
MeaningLong actionShort action
In progressI was cooking dinnerwhen the phone rang.
Two actions at the same timeShe was readingwhile he was watching TV.
NegativeThey were not listeningwhen the teacher explained it.

Past continuous: was / were + verb-ing.

Past simple: finished short action. Example: I was walking home when it started to rain.

Examples
  1. I was sleeping when you called.
  2. They were playing football when it started to rain.
  3. While I was cooking, my brother arrived.
  4. She was not listening when I gave the answer.
  5. Were you studying at eight o’clock?
  6. He fell while he was running.
  7. We were waiting for the bus when we saw Anna.
  8. The baby was crying while I was trying to work.
Common Mistakes
Exercises
1 Complete the sentences

Use the past continuous form of the verb.

I _____ (sleep). → was sleeping

  1. She (study) at nine o’clock.
  2. They (not / listen) to the teacher.
  3. We (wait) outside the cinema.
  4. you (work) yesterday evening?
  5. The dog (sleep) under the table.
2 Correct the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.

  1. I was cook when he arrived.
  2. They was talking during the film.
  3. While she read, the lights went out.
  4. We were played cards when Dad came home.
3 Past simple or past continuous

Write the correct form of the verb in brackets.

  1. I (walk) home when I (see) the accident.
  2. She (break) a glass while she (wash) the dishes.
  3. They (not / hear) the doorbell because they (listen) to music.
  4. What you (do) when I (call)?
  5. He (fall) while he (run).
4 Join with when or while

Join the two ideas in one sentence.

I watched TV. The phone rang. → I was watching TV when the phone rang.

  1. She cooked dinner. The lights went out.
  2. They played tennis. It started to rain.
  3. I did my homework. My friend sent a message.
  4. He rode his bike. He fell.
5 Memory challenge

Write three things you were doing yesterday at these times.

  1. At 8:00 yesterday morning, I was ...
  2. At lunchtime, I was ...
  3. At 9:00 last night, I was ...
Speaking Activity

Tell a short story using past continuous and past simple.

Ask what happened next.