Passé Continu: Que se passait-il ? (Je regardais la télé)
était en train de se passerdans le passé. Pense
action en cours, ambiance et interruption.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Past Continuous describes actions that were already in progress at a specific moment in the past, like a video playing.
- Use 'was' or 'were' plus the '-ing' form of the verb: 'I was eating.'
- Use it for background actions that get interrupted: 'I was sleeping when the phone rang.'
- Use it for two actions happening at the same time: 'He was cooking while I was cleaning.'
Overview
en plein milieu de quelque chose à un moment précis du passé est exactement la raison pour laquelle nous utilisons le Past Continuous.Past Simple, nous parlons d'une action terminée, comme une photo. Mais avec le Past Continuous, nous regardons l'action alors qu'elle était encore en cours. Ennuyeux, non ? Avec le Past Continuous, tu peux dire : J'étais en train de manger quand elle a appelé", ce qui ajoute du drame et du contexte.How This Grammar Works
Past Continuous est une question de durée. Il ne s'agit pas de savoir quand une action a commencé ou quand elle s'est terminée ; il s'agit du fait qu'elle était *en cours* à un moment précis. Imagine que tu étais dans un café hier à 15h., tu pourrais dire : J'étais en train de boire un café" (I was drinking a latte). Tu n'avais pas fini ton café, et tu ne venais pas de le commencer — tu étais en plein milieu. Ce temps crée un arrière-plan pour d'autres actions.Le soleil brillait et les gens promenaient leurs chiens dans le parc.Cela brosse un tableau avant d'arriver à l'événement principal :
Soudain, un OVNI a atterri.(D'accord, ta vie n'est peut-être pas aussi excitante, mais tu vois l'idée !). C'est aussi génial pour parler de deux choses qui se passent en même temps.
Cela capture parfaitement cette lutte classique de la vie étudiante. Pense à cela comme au temps duralenti". Il étire le moment pour que nous puissions voir ce qui se passait à l'intérieur.
Formation Pattern
Past Continuous, c'est comme faire un sandwich — tu as besoin de deux ingrédients principaux et d'un ordre précis.
be au passé : was ou were.
was pour I, he, she et it.
were pour you, we et they.
-ing (ce qu'on appelle le participe présent).
play → playing
scroll → scrolling
text → texting
Sujet + was/were + verbe-ing.
was watching Netflix).
were gaming until 2 AM).
not après was ou were.
was not / wasn't listening).
Nous ne regardions pas nos téléphones(We
were not / weren't checking).
be.
Étais-tu en train de filmer un vlog ?(
Were you filming a vlog?)
Que faisait-il ? (What was he doing?)
When To Use It
zones principales où le Past Continuous est le roi :- Actions interrompues : C'est l'utilisation la plus courante. Tu étais en plein milieu de quelque chose, et puis *vlan !* — autre chose est arrivé. "Je prenais ma douche quand l'Uber est arrivé." Le
Past Continuousest l'action longue (la douche), et lePast Simpleest l'interruption (l'Uber). - Moments précis : Quand tu veux être très précis sur un moment. "À minuit, j'essayais encore de finir mon essai." Cela montre qu'à ce moment exact, l'action était en cours.
- Actions parallèles : Quand deux choses se passaient en même temps.
Pendant que je cuisinais le dîner, mon frère mettait la table.
C'est comme un écran partagé dans un film. - Atmosphère / Arrière-plan : Comme mentionné plus haut, c'est génial pour raconter des histoires.
La pluie tombait et le vent soufflait.
Cela installe l'ambiance avant que l'histoire principale ne commence. - Habitudes agaçantes (avec 'always') : Si quelqu'un faisait quelque chose qui te rendait fou dans le passé.
Mon ex se plaignait toujours de mes goûts musicaux.
Cela ajoute une touche d'émotion et de drame à ta plainte.
Common Mistakes
- Le piège des verbes d'état : Certains verbes détestent être au continu. Nous les appelons verbes d'état (stative verbs). Des mots comme
love,hate,know,wantetbelieverestent généralement auPast Simple. Tu ne dirais pasI was knowing the answer
— c'est simplementI knew the answer
. - Oublier le verbe
be: Beaucoup de gens disentI watching TV. Non ! Tu as besoin duwas. Sans lui, la phrase n'a pas de sens. - Utiliser la mauvaise forme de
be: Rappelle-toi :I/he/she/it=was.You/we/they=were. Ne dis pasWe was. - Trop l'utiliser : Ne l'utilise pas pour tout ce qui s'est passé. Si l'action était rapide et terminée, reste au
Past Simple.I was opening the door
donne l'impression que tu as passé cinq minutes à tourner lentement la poignée.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Past Continuous est le Past Simple. Pense au Past Simple comme au temps du "Que s'est-il passé ? et au Past Continuous comme au temps du Que se passait-il ?".Past Simple: "J'ai regardé un film." (C'est fini. Fait établi).Past Continuous: "J'étais en train de regarder un film." (Je me concentre sur l'expérience ou la durée).
I cooked), cela signifie que le téléphone a sonné *d'abord*, puis tu as commencé à cuisiner. Mais si tu dis "Quand le téléphone a sonné, j'étais en train de cuisiner le dîner" (I was cooking), cela signifie que tu étais déjà dans la cuisine quand le téléphone a commencé à sonner.Quick FAQ
R: Généralement non. C'est pour les actions qui prennent du temps. Tu ne dirais pas I was blinking (j'étais en train de cligner des yeux). I blinked est la bonne forme.
while et when ?R: Excellente question ! Utilise while avec le Past Continuous (
While I was studying...) et
when avec le Past Simple (...when the light went out).
was pour you à l'oral informel ?R: Tu l'entendras peut-être dans certaines chansons, mais en anglais standard (et dans tes examens !), c'est toujours you were.
when ou while ?R: Pas toujours. Tu peux simplement dire I was sleeping si le contexte est clair.
R: Pas le *Past* Continuous ! Ce serait un cauchemar pour les voyageurs temporels. Utilise le Future Continuous pour cela.
2. Negative Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
was not
|
wasn't
|
|
were not
|
weren't
|
Conjugating the 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
Used to describe an ongoing action that was happening at a specific point in the past.
Interrupted Action
An ongoing past action that was interrupted by a shorter, sudden event (usually in Past Simple).
“I was walking home when it started to rain.”
“She was talking to her boss when the power went out.”
Parallel Actions
Two or more actions happening at the same time in the past.
“I was studying while my brother was playing video games.”
“The sun was shining and the birds were singing.”
Atmosphere/Setting the Scene
Describing the background situation at the start of a story.
“The wind was blowing and the trees were swaying.”
“People were rushing to work and cars were honking.”
Reference Table
| Sujet | Auxiliaire | Verbe principal (`-ing`) | Exemple |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
was
|
reading
|
I was reading a book.
|
|
You
|
were
|
studying
|
You were studying hard.
|
|
He
|
was
|
working
|
He was working late.
|
|
She
|
was
|
listening
|
She was listening to music.
|
|
It
|
was
|
raining
|
It was raining yesterday.
|
|
We
|
were
|
eating
|
We were eating pizza.
|
|
They
|
were
|
playing
|
They were playing outside.
|
Spectre de formalité
I apologize; I was engaged in a telephone conversation at that moment. (Apology)
Sorry, I was talking on the phone. (Apology)
My bad, I was on the phone. (Apology)
Sorry, was on a call. (Apology)
Passé Continu : L'ami de ton conteur
Formation
- was/were Auxiliaire
- Verb + -ing Participe présent
Quand l'utiliser
- Ongoing past action À un moment précis
- Background action Décrire une scène
- Interrupted action Quand quelque chose d'autre s'est produit
- Simultaneous actions Deux choses à la fois
Erreurs courantes
- Missing 'was/were' Ex: 'I reading'
- Stative verbs Ex: 'was knowing'
Passé Continu vs. Passé Simple
Choisir ton temps passé
L'action est-elle terminée et achevée ?
L'action était-elle en cours ou en progression à un moment précis dans le passé ?
Décris-tu une scène ou une activité de fond ?
Le Passé Continu en action
Vie quotidienne
- • I was drinking coffee.
- • They were chatting online.
- • She was walking to class.
Récits
- • The rain was falling.
- • He was running when...
- • Everyone was laughing.
Actions interrompues
- • I was sleeping when the phone rang.
- • While he was working, his laptop crashed.
- • They were studying when the party started.
Actions simultanées
- • She was cooking while he was cleaning.
- • I was listening to music and working.
- • They were talking and laughing.
Exemples par niveau
I was playing tennis.
She was eating an apple.
They were sleeping.
We were watching TV.
I was working at 10:00 yesterday.
Were you listening to me?
He wasn't wearing a coat.
It was raining when we left.
While I was washing the car, it started to rain.
What were you doing when the accident happened?
I was constantly thinking about my exam.
They were having dinner while we were waiting outside.
The company was losing money every month.
She was always complaining about her job.
I was hoping to see you at the party.
The birds were singing and the sun was setting.
I was wondering whether you had a moment to chat.
The tension was building throughout the meeting.
He was forever losing his keys in those days.
I was just finishing the report when the computer crashed.
I was going to suggest a walk, but it's too cold.
The city was undergoing a massive transformation.
Were you wanting to speak with the manager specifically?
The plot was thickening with every new piece of evidence.
Facile à confondre
Learners often use Past Continuous for completed actions or Past Simple for background actions.
Learners try to use -ing with verbs like 'know', 'like', or 'understand'.
Both can describe the past, but 'used to' is for habits, while Past Continuous is for specific moments.
Erreurs courantes
I watching TV.
I was watching TV.
They was playing.
They were playing.
I was play tennis.
I was playing tennis.
He were eating.
He was eating.
I was knowing the answer.
I knew the answer.
When I was arriving, they were eating.
When I arrived, they were eating.
Were you watch the game?
Were you watching the game?
I was having a car.
I had a car.
While I finished my work, he was waiting.
While I was finishing my work, he was waiting.
I was liking the movie.
I liked the movie.
Structures de phrases
I was ___ing when ___.
While I was ___ing, she was ___ing.
At [time], I was ___ing.
I was always ___ing when I was a kid.
Real World Usage
I was driving at 40mph when the light turned red.
Sorry! I was sleeping.
I was working as a manager when I developed this system.
We were having so much fun!
I was exercising when I felt the pain.
Protesters were gathering outside the building all morning.
Pense 'Instant T' !
I was dancing when the music stopped.
Attention aux verbes d'état !
I was knowing pour que ça sonne naturel.Utilise 'While' & 'When'
While I was cooking...), et 'when' la courte action qui interrompt (
...when the phone rang.). Ils vont super bien ensemble !
Le pouvoir des histoires !
The rain was falling, and the wind was blowing.
Entraîne-toi avec 'Was/Were' !
I studying te fera paraître beaucoup plus naturel.Smart Tips
Almost always use the Past Continuous after it.
Use Past Continuous for the weather and background people.
Use 'I was wondering' instead of 'I want'.
Drop the -e before adding -ing.
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/.
The '-ing' sound
The 'g' is usually silent or very soft. It sounds like /ɪŋ/.
Rising intonation for questions
Were you ↑listening?
Conveys a yes/no question.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
WAS for one, WERE for more, add ING to the verb you adore.
Association visuelle
Imagine a 'loading bar' in the past. The Past Continuous is the bar while it's still filling up, not when it's 100% finished.
Rhyme
When the action was in flow, was and were is how you go!
Story
Imagine you walk into a room yesterday. A cat was sleeping, a dog was barking, and a bird was flying. These are all background actions in Past Continuous.
Word Web
Défi
Look at a photo of yourself from a few years ago. Write 3 sentences about what you were doing, wearing, or thinking in that moment.
Notes culturelles
Often used to make excuses sound more polite and less direct than the Past Simple.
Frequently used in storytelling to build suspense before a 'climax' in the Past Simple.
Sometimes uses 'after + -ing' instead of Past Continuous, though this is a different structure entirely.
The progressive aspect in English developed from an Old English construction using 'be' + a preposition + a verbal noun.
Amorces de conversation
What were you doing at this time yesterday?
What was the weather like when you woke up this morning?
Were you living in a different city five years ago?
What were you thinking about before this lesson started?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
At 7 PM yesterday, I ___ dinner.
Find and fix the mistake:
They studying all night for the test.
Translate into English: 'Ella estaba escuchando música cuando la llamé.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesAt 8 PM last night, I ___ (read) a book.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
I was know the answer.
He worked.
A: Why didn't you answer? B: Sorry, I ___ (have) a shower.
Match: 1. We, 2. She
I was sleeping ___ the alarm went off.
While my mom was cooking, my dad ___ (wash) the dishes.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesMy phone rang while I ___ (sleep).
He was always complain about his job.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '¿Qué estabas haciendo cuando te vi en la cafetería?'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct form:
The wind ___ (blow) strongly all night.
While she was read, her cat jumped on the table.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Estábamos cenando cuando se fue la luz.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
He ___ (not / pay) attention during the lecture.
What you were doing when the accident happened?
Score: /13
FAQ (8)
Usually, no. 'While' is for long actions, so it almost always takes the Past Continuous. Use 'when' for Past Simple.
These are verbs like `know`, `love`, `believe`, and `own`. They describe states, not actions, so we don't use them with `-ing`.
In the Past Continuous, it is always `I was`. `I were` is only used in the subjunctive mood (e.g., 'If I were you').
Because 'run' is a one-syllable verb ending in consonant-vowel-consonant, you double the 'n' to get `running`.
Only if you want to emphasize that it was annoying, usually with the word 'always'. Otherwise, use `used to`.
`I ate` means the meal is finished. `I was eating` means we are talking about the time during the meal.
No, that's the `Future Continuous`. Past Continuous is strictly for things that happened before now.
Yes, but only to describe temporary behavior. 'He was being rude' means he isn't usually rude, but he was at that moment.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Estaba comiendo / Comía
Spanish has two ways to express this; English mostly uses one.
L'imparfait
French uses one tense for habits and background; English splits them.
Präteritum + gerade
German uses the simple past with an adverb like 'gerade' (just/currently).
〜ていました (~te imashita)
Very similar logic to English.
كان + verb (kana + verb)
The structure is almost identical to English.
正在 (zhèngzài) + Past Context
Chinese verbs don't change for the past; you just add a time word.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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