A2.1·grammar·21 min

Past Continuous

Describe ongoing actions in the past with was/were + verb-ing

Resumo (pt-BR)

Passado contínuo — was/were + verbo-ing, para ações em progresso no passado.

Exercises preview

Exercise 1
multiple choice
While I ___ dinner, the phone rang.
- cooked
- was cookinganswer
- am cooking
- cook
Past continuous for a long action interrupted by a short one.
🇧🇷 Passado contínuo para uma ação longa interrompida por outra curta.
Exercise 2
fill blank
They ___ (watch) TV when I arrived.
Were + watching — ongoing past action.
🇧🇷 Para 'they', use 'were' + verbo-ing.
Exercise 3
matching
- I was reading→Eu estava lendo
- She was driving→Ela estava dirigindo
- We were laughing→Nós estávamos rindo
- They were sleeping→Eles estavam dormindo
All past-continuous translations.
🇧🇷 Todas no passado contínuo.
Exercise 4
fill blank
Complete: "I was ___ dinner at home."
The full phrase is: "I was having dinner at home."
🇧🇷 WAS + -ing.
Exercise 5
multiple choice
Pick the best response. (WAS EATING.)
- I am not sure.
- That is a great idea.
- Yes, my family was eating too.answer
- Yes, of course.
The correct response is: "Yes, my family was eating too."
🇧🇷 WAS EATING.