Theory Introduction

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

In the negative form notis placed after the auxiliary verb.

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I			I	I
He	was working	Was	He working? She	He	was not working
She		She	(wasn’t)
It			It	It
We			We	We	were working
You	were working	Were	You working	You	(weren’t)
They			They	They

The Past Continuous tense is used:

1. to express an activity happening at a particular time in the past. (It may be used with a point of time: at 7 yesterday or with a verb in the simple past tense in the subordinate clause: when we came …)

What were you doing at 9 last night? – I was reading a book.

When she got home, the children were sleeping and the dog was sitting in front of the door.

2. to describe an action, event or situation that was in progress at a specified time in the past

In May of last year I was studying hard for my final exams.

3. for descriptions

Helen looked beautiful last night. She was wearing a lovely velvet dress.

4. used without a time expression, it can indicate gradual development

It was getting dark and the wind was rising.

5. used with while the Past Continuous describes two actions that were in progress at the same time

While he was driving along this morning, he was thinking about his new job.

The Past Continuous may be used with the following adverbials: all night, all morning, all day yesterday, the whole evening, since 5 till 7.