Passé Continu: Formation (was/were + ing)
was/were + verbe en -ing pour parler d'actions qui étaient en cours à un moment précis dans le passé.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'was' or 'were' plus a verb ending in '-ing' to describe actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past.
- Use 'was' for I, he, she, it; use 'were' for you, we, they. Example: 'I was eating.'
- Add '-ing' to the main verb. Example: 'They were playing.'
- For negatives, add 'not' after was/were. Example: 'She was not (wasn't) sleeping.'
Overview
Past Continuous. C'est la grammaire des excuses, du storytelling et de la mise en scène du film de ta vie. Au lieu d'un simple instantané, ce temps nous donne tout le clip vidéo.Past Simple est un point sur une carte, le Past Continuous est le road trip lui-même.How This Grammar Works
to be (was ou were). L'action, c'est ton verbe principal avec un -ing collé à la fin.Past Simple nous dit ce qui s'est passé, le Past Continuous nous dit ce qui était en train de se passer autour. Ça crée une sensation de durée et de progression.
Formation Pattern
Subject (la personne ou la chose qui fait l'action).
was ou were. Utilise was pour I, he, she, et it. Utilise were pour you, we, et they.
verb principal avec une terminaison en -ing.
Subject + was/were + verb-ing.
was texting my friend. »
not : « She was not (wasn't) listening to the podcast. »
Were you watching Netflix at midnight? »
-ing ! Si un verbe se termine par -e, retire-le (comme make qui devient making). Si c'est un verbe court avec une voyelle et une consonne, double la dernière lettre (comme run qui devient running). S'il se termine par -y, ne touche à rien et ajoute juste -ing (comme play qui devient playing). C'est plus facile que de choisir un film un vendredi soir, je te le promets.
When To Use It
- Background Action : Pour décrire l'ambiance. « The music
was playingloudly and everyonewas dancing. » - Interrupted Action : Quand une chose était en train de se passer et puis *bam* — quelque chose d'autre l'a arrêtée. « I
was walkingto the gym when it started to rain. » - Parallel Actions : Quand deux choses se passaient exactement en même temps. « While I
was cookingdinner, my roommatewas playingvideo games. » - Specific Time Progress : Pour montrer ce qui se passait à un moment précis. « At 8:00 PM last night, I
was orderingpizza on Uber Eats. »
was always losing his keys ! » (Note : utilise always ici pour montrer que c'était un truc habituel et énervant).love, know, ou want. Tu ne peux pas vraiment être « en train de savoir » quelque chose ; soit tu le sais, soit tu ne le sais pas.
Common Mistakes
was working ». Tu as besoin de ce was ou were pour servir de colle ! Une autre erreur classique est d'utiliser la mauvaise version de l'auxiliaire. Rappelle-toi : was est pour les personnes « solitaires » au singulier (I, he, she, it), et were est pour les groupes (we, they) et l'invité spécial you.comming au lieu de coming ou runing au lieu de running. Vérifie bien ces consonnes ! Enfin, n'utilise pas le Past Continuous pour des actions rapides et soudaines. Tu ne dirais pas « I was dropping my phone ». À moins que tu ne sois en train de le faire tomber en super ralenti pour une scène de film dramatique, ça arrive généralement instantanément : « I dropped my phone ».Contrast With Similar Patterns
Les gens confondent souvent le Past Simple et le Past Continuous. Voici le moyen le plus simple de s'en souvenir :
Past Simple est pour les actions terminées. C'est le « ce qui s'est passé ». (I watched a movie).Past Continuous est pour les actions en cours. C'est le « ce qui était en train de se passer ». (I was watching a movie).Si le Past Simple est une photo unique, le Past Continuous est un GIF. Tu utilises le Past Simple pour les événements principaux d'une histoire et le Past Continuous pour les détails et le décor. « I was walking home (Continuous) when I saw (Simple) a celebrity ! » Marcher a pris du temps ; voir s'est produit en une seconde.
Quick FAQ
was avec you ?you were.-ing change selon les sujets ?-ing reste exactement la même. Seuls was et were changent.Present Continuous pour ça. Si tu dis « I was going to the party », ça veut dire d'habitude que tu n'y es pas vraiment allé parce que quelque chose s'est passé.2. Negative Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
was not
|
wasn't
|
Common in speech/informal writing
|
|
were not
|
weren't
|
Common in speech/informal writing
|
Conjugation of 'to work' in Past Continuous
| Subject | Auxiliary (to be) | Main Verb (-ing) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
was
|
working
|
I was working.
|
|
You
|
were
|
working
|
You were working.
|
|
He/She/It
|
was
|
working
|
She was working.
|
|
We
|
were
|
working
|
We were working.
|
|
They
|
were
|
working
|
They were working.
|
Meanings
The Past Continuous describes actions or events that were in progress at a specific time in the past. It emphasizes the duration or the 'ongoingness' of the action.
Action in progress at a specific time
To show what someone was doing at a precise moment in the past.
“I was sleeping at midnight.”
“What were you doing at 10 AM?”
Interrupted action
To describe a longer background action that was interrupted by a shorter event (usually in Past Simple).
“I was taking a shower when the phone rang.”
“She was walking home when it started to rain.”
Parallel actions
To describe two actions happening at the same time in the past.
“I was studying while my brother was playing video games.”
“Were you listening while I was talking?”
Atmosphere/Setting the scene
Used at the beginning of stories to describe the background situation.
“The birds were singing and the sun was shining.”
“People were rushing to work and cars were honking.”
Reference Table
| Sujet | Positif (+) | Négatif (-) | Question (?) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
was working
|
wasn't working
|
Was I working?
|
|
You (singular/plural)
|
were working
|
weren't working
|
Were you working?
|
|
He/She/It
|
was working
|
wasn't working
|
Was he/she/it working?
|
|
We
|
were working
|
weren't working
|
Were we working?
|
|
They
|
were working
|
weren't working
|
Were they working?
|
Spectre de formalité
Could you please clarify what you were doing at 8 PM yesterday? (Inquiry)
What were you doing at 8 PM yesterday? (Inquiry)
What were you up to last night around 8? (Inquiry)
Whatcha doin' last night at 8? (Inquiry)
Passé Continu : Ton complice pour raconter des histoires
Formation
- Subject + was/were + Verb-ing Structure de base
- was (I, he, she, it) Sujets singuliers
- were (you, we, they) Sujets pluriels
Utilisations Clés
- Ongoing past actions Que se passait-il ?
- Setting the scene Contexte pour d'autres événements
- Parallel actions Deux choses en même temps
À Éviter Avec
- Stative verbs Exemple : know, love, want
- Completed actions Utilise plutôt le Passé Simple
Exemples
- I was studying. Phrase affirmative
- She wasn't listening. Phrase négative
- Were they playing? Question
Passé Continu vs Passé Simple
Choisir le Passé Continu : Un guide rapide
L'action se déroule-t-elle dans le passé ?
L'action était-elle en cours ou en progression à un moment précis ?
Est-ce un verbe d'état (par exemple, savoir, aimer) ?
Le Passé Continu en action : Contextes
Raconter des histoires
- • Planter le décor (par exemple, 'The sun was shining')
- • Décrire des actions de fond ('While I was walking...')
Vie Quotidienne
- • Expliquer ce que tu faisais ('I was making coffee')
- • Demander aux autres ('What were you watching?')
Communication Moderne
- • Envoyer des SMS à des amis ('I was scrolling Insta')
- • Appels Zoom ('We were discussing the plan')
Académique/Professionnel
- • Rapporter des activités ('The team was analyzing data')
- • Explications d'entretien ('I was coordinating projects')
Exemples par niveau
I was playing football.
I was playing football.
They were eating pizza.
They were eating pizza.
She was not sleeping.
She was not sleeping.
Were you working?
Were you working?
I was watching TV at 8 o'clock.
I was watching TV at 8 o'clock.
We were walking when it rained.
We were walking when it rained.
He wasn't listening to the teacher.
He wasn't listening to the teacher.
What were they doing yesterday?
What were they doing yesterday?
While I was studying, my phone rang.
While I was studying, my phone rang.
The sun was setting as we arrived at the beach.
The sun was setting as we arrived at the beach.
I was thinking about you all day.
I was thinking about you all day.
They were constantly arguing during the trip.
They were constantly arguing during the trip.
I was hoping you could lend me some money.
I was hoping you could lend me some money.
The economy was finally recovering when the crisis hit.
The economy was finally recovering when the crisis hit.
She was always complaining about her boss.
She was always complaining about her boss.
I was just finishing my report when the computer crashed.
I was just finishing my report when the computer crashed.
I was wondering if I might have a word with you.
I was wondering if I might have a word with you.
The tension was building throughout the entire meeting.
The tension was building throughout the entire meeting.
He was forever coming up with these grand schemes.
He was forever coming up with these grand schemes.
As the crowd was gathering, the police arrived.
As the crowd was gathering, the police arrived.
The very foundations of the city were crumbling as the invaders approached.
The very foundations of the city were crumbling as the invaders approached.
I was meaning to call you, but life just got in the way.
I was meaning to call you, but life just got in the way.
The project was already floundering before the new manager took over.
The project was already floundering before the new manager took over.
Were you wanting to see the manager specifically?
Were you wanting to see the manager specifically?
Facile à confondre
Learners often use Past Simple when they should use Past Continuous to show duration.
Both describe past habits, but 'used to' is for finished states, while Past Continuous + 'always' is for repeated actions.
Mixing up 'am/is/are' with 'was/were'.
Erreurs courantes
I working yesterday.
I was working yesterday.
They was playing.
They were playing.
I was play football.
I was playing football.
Was you sleeping?
Were you sleeping?
I was knowing the answer.
I knew the answer.
When I was arriving, they were eating.
When I arrived, they were eating.
I was not study.
I was not studying.
While I cooked, the phone rang.
While I was cooking, the phone rang.
I was having a car.
I had a car.
He was always lose his keys.
He was always losing his keys.
I was wondering if you can help me.
I was wondering if you could help me.
Structures de phrases
I was ___ing when ___.
While I was ___ing, he was ___ing.
At [Time], they were ___ing.
Was she ___ing when you saw her?
Real World Usage
We were having so much fun in Bali!
The suspect was wearing a red hoodie and was running toward the park.
While I was working at Google, I developed a new filing system.
Sorry! I was driving and couldn't text back.
It was a dark night. The wind was howling...
I was feeling dizzy all morning yesterday.
Visualise l'action
was/were + -ing est ce que la caméra was capturing à ce moment-là. Ça t'aide à te souvenir que c'est un processus en cours !Évite les verbes d'état
I was knowing mais I knew.Le contexte, c'est essentiel
was ongoing et laquelle était une interruption rapide !Parle plus naturellement
Smart Tips
Use Past Continuous to describe the weather and what people were wearing to make the story more vivid.
Automatically prepare to use the '-ing' form.
Use the Past Continuous to show that you were busy with something else.
Use 'I was wondering' instead of 'I want to know'.
Prononciation
Weak form of 'was'
In sentences, 'was' is usually unstressed and sounds like /wəz/.
Weak form of 'were'
In sentences, 'were' is usually unstressed and sounds like /wə(r)/.
The -ing sound
The 'g' is silent; it is a nasal 'n' sound /ɪŋ/.
Rising intonation in Yes/No questions
Were you ↗listening?
Asking for confirmation.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Remember 'BE in the past + ING'. Was/Were is the 'BE', and the action is 'ING' (ongoing).
Association visuelle
Imagine a movie camera filming a scene. The camera is the Past Continuous—it captures the action as it moves. A still photo is the Past Simple.
Rhyme
Was and were and verb with ing, shows a past and ongoing thing!
Story
Yesterday at 5 PM, I was walking my dog. Suddenly, a cat ran by. My dog was barking, and I was pulling the leash. It was a chaotic moment in progress!
Word Web
Défi
Look at a photo of a busy street. Describe 5 things that 'were happening' in that photo as if it were yesterday.
Notes culturelles
Often use Past Continuous for very polite, indirect requests to avoid sounding demanding.
Commonly used in storytelling to build suspense in casual conversation.
Using 'always' with Past Continuous often signals that the speaker found the habit annoying.
The continuous aspect in English developed significantly in the Middle English period, influenced by the 'to be' + 'on' + 'verbal noun' construction (e.g., 'I was on hunting').
Amorces de conversation
What were you doing at this time yesterday?
Tell me about a time you were doing something and were interrupted.
What was the weather like when you woke up this morning?
While you were growing up, what was your favorite hobby?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
At 7 PM yesterday, I ___ (eat) dinner.
Find and fix the mistake:
They was playing soccer in the park.
Translate into English: 'Ella estaba estudiando cuando la llamaste.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesAt 10 PM last night, I ___ (read) a book.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
I was knowing the answer to the question.
She was sleeping when you arrived.
A: Why didn't you answer the phone? B: Sorry, I ___ a shower.
Match the following:
___ I was walking home, I saw a famous actor.
What ___ you ___ (do) when the power went out?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMy phone rang while I ___ (walk) to the store.
Choose the correct sentence:
The students ___ (not listen) to the lecture.
While she was cook, the fire alarm went off.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Translate into English: 'Estábamos cenando cuando recibimos la noticia.'
Match the subjects with the correct verb form:
When the boss walked in, I was talk to my colleague.
The kids ___ (play) outside all afternoon yesterday.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Translate into English: '¿Estabas durmiendo cuando te llamé?'
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, in standard English, 'you' always takes 'were', even if you are talking to only one person.
'I ate' means the meal is finished. 'I was eating' means we are focusing on the time during the meal.
'Like' is a stative verb. These verbs describe states, not actions, so they don't usually have an '-ing' form.
Use 'while' before the Past Continuous (long action) and 'when' before the Past Simple (short action).
'Wasn't' is more natural in speaking. 'Was not' is better for formal essays.
Yes, if you use 'always' or 'constantly', usually to show that the habit was annoying (e.g., 'He was always shouting').
Not always, but it usually implies a specific moment or context that the listener already knows.
It becomes 'running'. Because it's a short CVC verb, you double the 'n'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pasado Progresivo (estaba comiendo)
Spanish also uses the 'Imperfecto' (comía) for background actions, which English must translate as Past Continuous.
L'imparfait
French speakers often forget the 'was/were' because their tense is a single word (mangeais).
Präteritum / Gerade dabei sein
German speakers often say 'I worked' when they mean 'I was working'.
~te ita (~ていた)
Japanese uses this same form for states (like 'I was married'), whereas English uses Past Simple.
Kana + Present (كان يقرأ)
The main verb in Arabic stays in the present form, not a participle.
zài (在) + past context
The past meaning must come from context or time words like 'yesterday'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Présent Continu: Actions en cours maintenant
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Passé Simple: Verbe 'être' (was/were)
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