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
I slept라고 하진 않았을 거야. 분명 I was sleeping!이라고 했겠지!Past Continuous의 마법이야. 이건 변명이나 이야기를 할 때, 그리고 인생이라는 영화의 배경을 설정할 때 쓰는 문법이야. 시간의 짧은 스냅샷 대신, 이 시제는 전체 비디오 클립을 보여줘.Past Simple이 지도 위의 한 점이라면, Past Continuous는 자동차 여행 그 자체라고 할 수 있어.How This Grammar Works
to be 동사의 과거형인 was나 were야. 행동은 본동사 뒤에 -ing를 붙인 형태지.Past Simple이 무슨 일이 일어났는지를 말해준다면, Past Continuous는 그 주변에서 무슨 일이 진행 중이었는지를 말해줘. 지속되고 진행되는 느낌을 만들어내는 거야.I studied라고 하면 끝난 일처럼 들려. 하지만 I was studying이라고 하면 시간이 걸리는 과정처럼 들리지. 듣는 사람이 그 장면을 머릿속에 그리게 하고 싶을 때 쓰는 거야.The sun rose와 The sun was rising의 차이라고 볼 수 있어. 하나는 사실이고, 다른 하나는 아름다운 아침 풍경이지.
Formation Pattern
Subject(행동을 하는 사람이나 사물)로 시작해.
was나 were를 더해. I, he, she, it에는 was를 써. you, we, they에는 were를 써.
verb 뒤에 -ing를 붙여서 더해줘.
Subject + was/were + verb-ing.
Iwastextingmy friend.
not만 붙이면 돼: "She was not (wasn't) listening to the podcast."
WereyouwatchingNetflix at midnight?
-ing 철자 규칙도 잊지 마! 동사가 -e로 끝나면, -e를 빼 (make가 making이 되는 것처럼). 모음 하나와 자음 하나로 된 짧은 동사라면, 마지막 글자를 하나 더 써 (run이 running이 되는 것처럼). -y로 끝난다면, 그냥 두고 -ing만 붙여 (play가 playing이 되는 것처럼). 장담하는데 금요일 밤에 볼 영화 고르는 것보단 훨씬 쉬울 거야.
When To Use It
- Background Action: 분위기를 묘사할 때.
The music
was playingloudly and everyonewas dancing. - Interrupted Action: 어떤 일이 진행 중인데 *쾅*—다른 일이 그 흐름을 끊었을 때.
I
was walkingto the gym when it started to rain. - Parallel Actions: 두 가지 일이 동시에 일어나고 있었을 때.
While I
was cookingdinner, my roommatewas playingvideo games. - Specific Time Progress: 정확한 그 시점에 무슨 일이 일어나고 있었는지 보여줄 때.
At 8:00 PM last night, I
was orderingpizza on Uber Eats.
He was always losing his keys! (참고: 여기서 always를 쓰면 자주 일어나는 짜증 나는 일이었다는 걸 보여줘). 다만 love, know, want 같은 상태 동사에는 쓰지 마. 무언가를 «알고 있는 중»일 수는 없잖아. 알거나 모르거나 둘 중 하나지.
Common Mistakes
I was working 대신 I working yesterday라고 말해. 접착제 역할을 해줄 was나 were가 꼭 필요해! 또 다른 고전적인 실수는 도우미 동사의 형태를 잘못 쓰는 거야. 기억해: was는 혼자 있는 «외로운» 사람들(I, he, she, it)을 위한 거고, were는 그룹(we, they)과 특별 손님 you를 위한 거야.coming 대신 comming이라고 쓰거나 running 대신 runing이라고 써. 자음을 잘 확인해! 마지막으로, 빠르고 갑작스러운 행동에는 Past Continuous를 쓰지 마. I was dropping my phone이라고는 안 하잖아. 극적인 영화 장면을 위해 초슬로우 모션으로 떨어뜨리는 게 아니라면, 보통은 순식간에 일어나니까:
I dropped my phone.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
사람들은 종종 Past Simple과 Past Continuous를 헷갈려해. 차이점을 기억하는 가장 쉬운 방법은 이거야:
Past Simple은 완료된 행동을 위한 거야. «무슨 일이 일어났는지»를 말하지. (I watched a movie).Past Continuous는 진행 중인 행동을 위한 거야. «무슨 일이 일어나고 있었는지»를 말해. (I was watching a movie).Past Simple이 한 장의 사진이라면, Past Continuous는 GIF(움짤)야. 이야기의 주요 사건에는 Past Simple을 쓰고, 세부 사항과 배경 설정에는 Past Continuous를 쓰는 거지.
I걷는 건 시간이 걸렸고, 본 건 순식간에 일어난 거야.was walkinghome (Continuous) when Isaw(Simple) a celebrity!
Quick FAQ
you랑 was를 같이 써도 돼?
해적처럼 들리고 싶거나 아주 옛날 속어를 쓰는 게 아니라면 안 돼. 표준 영어에서는 항상 you were야.
주어가 달라지면 -ing도 바뀌어?
아니! -ing 부분은 똑같이 유지돼. was랑 were만 바뀌는 거야.
미래 계획에도 이걸 쓸 수 있어?
그럴 땐 보통 Present Continuous를 써. 만약
I was going to the party라고 말하면, 보통 무슨 일이 생겨서 실제로는 가지 못했다는 뜻이 돼.
다른 행동 없이 이것만 써도 괜찮아?
그럼.
I was working all day는 그 자체로 완벽한 문장이야.
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
| 주어 | 긍정문 (+) | 부정문 (-) | 의문문 (?) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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?
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
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)
과거진행형: 당신의 스토리텔링 조력자
형태
- 주어 + was/were + 동사-ing 기본 구조
- was (I, he, she, it) 단수 주어
- were (you, we, they) 복수 주어
주요 용법
- 과거 진행 중인 행동 무엇이 진행 중이었나?
- 배경 설정 다른 사건을 위한 배경
- 동시 발생 행동 두 가지 일이 동시에
피해야 할 경우
- 상태 동사 예: know, love, want
- 완료된 행동 대신 과거 단순형 사용
예시
- I was studying. 긍정문
- She wasn't listening. 부정문
- Were they playing? 의문문
과거진행형 vs. 과거 단순형
과거진행형 선택하기: 빠른 가이드
그 행동이 과거에 일어났나요?
그 행동이 특정 시점에 진행 중이거나 계속되고 있었나요?
상태 동사인가요 (예: know, love)?
과거진행형 활용: 상황별
스토리텔링
- • 배경 설정 (예: 'The sun was shining')
- • 배경 행동 묘사 ('While I was walking...')
일상생활
- • 무엇을 하고 있었는지 설명 ('I was making coffee')
- • 다른 사람에게 묻기 ('What were you watching?')
현대 커뮤니케이션
- • 친구에게 문자 보내기 ('I was scrolling Insta')
- • 줌 통화 ('We were discussing the plan')
학업/전문 분야
- • 활동 보고 ('The team was analyzing data')
- • 면접 설명 ('I was coordinating projects')
수준별 예문
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?
혼동하기 쉬운
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'.
자주 하는 실수
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.
문장 패턴
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.
행동을 시각화해 보세요
The camera was capturing.이렇게 생각하면 진행 중인 행동을 더 잘 이해할 수 있을 거예요!
상태 동사는 피하세요
I knew.라고 해야지 I was knowing.은 어색해요.맥락이 중요해요
I was reading when the phone rang.처럼요.
더 자연스럽게 들려요
She was singing beautifully.
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'.
발음
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.
암기하기
기억법
Remember 'BE in the past + ING'. Was/Were is the 'BE', and the action is 'ING' (ongoing).
시각적 연상
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
챌린지
Look at a photo of a busy street. Describe 5 things that 'were happening' in that photo as if it were yesterday.
문화 노트
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').
대화 시작하기
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?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
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
연습 문제
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
자주 묻는 질문 (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
Continue With
관련 동영상
07:53 The Thrill of Not Knowing All the Answers | Harini Bhat | TED
07:33 Strawberry Blender Cake | Food Wishes
05:13 Friendly Pizza, UFOs and the Joy of AI-Generated Video | Matan Cohen Grumi | TED
영어 과거진행형 was/were ~ing | 스피드영어
스피드영어
과거진행형 (Past Continuous) - 영어문법
영어문법
과거진행형 영어문법 (Past Continuous Tense) - 영어회화
영어회화
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