Learning English--Using the Past Continuous with the Simple Past Tense

Using the Past Continuous with the Simple Past Tense

 The past continuous tense uses:

was/were + (verb) + ingwas eating or were going

It is used to show something that happened in the past and continued for a while. For example:

From 8:00 to 8:30 I was taking a bath.

We use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense when we want to show that one thing happened in the middle of another thing.

I was taking a bath and the telephone rang.

During a period of time (8:00-8:30) I was taking a bath. At one time (let's say 8:17) someone called on the telephone.
We can also connect the past continuous and simple past together by using the words when,while, and as.

When I was taking a bath, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang when I was taking a bath.
While I was taking a bath, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang while I was taking a bath.
As I was taking a bath, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang as I was taking a bath.

Notice if you use when, while, or as at the beginning of the sentence, you need to put a comma (,) after the phrase.

Check Your UnderstandingMake a sentence using the words given. Use the past continuous for things that happened over a period of time and the simple past for things that happened a one time. The first one has been done for you.I
walk down the street (5:00-5:10)
see an old man (5:04)
while

While I was walking down the street, I saw an old man.
I saw an old man while I was walking down the street.

1. Susan
bake a cake (3:45-4:45)
drop a spoon (3:51)
when

         Check your answers         Susan was baking a cake when she dropped a spoon.         When Susan was baking a cake, she dropped a spoon.         
2. We
a burglar comes in the house (3:00)
sleep (10:00-6:00)
as

         Check your answers         We were sleeping as a burglar came into the house.         As a burglar came into the house, we were sleeping.         
3. George and Tammy
play golf (4:30-6:30)
see a movie star on the golf course (6:01)
and

         Check your answers         George and Tammy were playing golf and saw a movie star.                   
4. The cat
scratch its ear (12:01-12:02)
a mouse runs by (12:01)
while

         Check your answers         While the cat was scratching its ear, a mouse ran by.         A mouse ran by while the cat was scratching its ear.