Past continuous + Phrasal verbs

Let's start with some common phrasal verbs that are useful in everyday English!

We use Past Continuous tense to refer to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past.

This tense is formed by combining the past tense of to be (was/were) with the verb’s present participle ( -ing word).

It is often used to describe conditions that existed in the past.

The sun was shining every day that summer.
It was snowing yesterday.
They were eating at the restaurant.

Was or were - What to use?

Remember to change the verb to be so it matches the subject. Use was with I, he, she, or it, and use were with you, we, or they.

She was working on an email when the fire alarm rang.
The team was playing well until the second half.

Use were for all other subjects, including all plural subjects. Were is also used with you.

The days were getting shorter as winter approached.

1. Questions that can be answered with yes or no are formed by inverting the subject and correct form of the verb be ( was/were).

Was he studying all night again?

2. Wh- questions can not be answered with yes or no.

Where was he going?

To make a positive statement negative, add not before the verb + -ing.

You were not doing your homework.

You can also use a contraction (wasn't / weren't).

You weren't doing your homework.

Be careful as there are also some spelling changes when you create the -ing form of verbs.

For verbs that end with one -e, drop the -e and add -ing.
live - living
make - making
give - giving

With verbs ending with a long -e sound, add -ing as normal
see - seeing
be - being
agree - agreeing

If a verb ends in -ie change ie to y and then add -ing.
die - dying
lie - lying

If the verb has one syllable and ends with CVC (a consonant + vowel + consonant), we double the final consonant before adding the -ing ending.
run - running
plan - planning

We also double the final consonant if the last syllable is stressed.
begin - beginning
forget - forgetting

However, do not double the consonant for verbs that end in w, x or y.
stay - staying
show - showing
wax - waxing

Past continuous tense can also be used to describe something that was happening continuously in the past when another action interrupted it.

I was making dinner when she arrived.

Notice: Not every verb describes a continuous action! Certain verbs can’t be used in the past continuous tense.

One common example is the verb to arrive.

Wrong: At noon, he was arriving.
Correct: At noon, he arrived.

Let's combine the past continuous tense with some of the phrasal verbs we've just learned!

There is a certain type of verb that cannot be used in any continuous tense, including the past continuous tense. These are called stative verbs.

Because stative verbs are inherently continuous, it sounds odd to put them in a continuous tense. You can use them in the simple past instead.

Stative verbs are for example: love, like, believe, seem, need, want, etc.

We can also use the past continuous to refer to the present or future in hypotheses (when we imagine something), or in a few polite expressions.

These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were traveling first class.
If Jack was playing, they would probably win.
Excuse me, I was wondering if this was the train for New York.