Subject + Was / Were + Verb -Ing + the rest of the sentence.
To formulate affirmative sentences in this tense, we use the Past of the Verb To Be "Was or Were".
If the subject of the sentence is "He - She - It - I" We use "Was".
If the subject of the sentence is "You - We - They" we use "Were".
After the Simple Past form of the Verb To Be, it is written the main verb ending in "-ing" to identify that the action was in progress.
Examples
Kevin was having a shower when the phone rang.
British
American
The teacher was writing on the board.
British
American
They were playing football when it started raining.
British
American
I was driving home when I saw an "UFO".
British
American
Subject + Wasn't / Weren't + Verb -Ing + the rest of the sentence.
In the Negative sentences, add "not" to the Verb To Be.
Was not (Wasn't) or Were not (Weren't).
We always write the main verb of the sentence with "-ing" at the end of it.
Examples
My brother wasn't studying when I came home.
British
American
We weren't talking, Miss Taylor.
British
American
I wasn't running when he saw me.
British
American
Was / Were + Subject + Verb -Ing + the rest of the sentence?
In the interrogative, the Verb To Be is written before the subject.
The main verb of the sentence is always written with "-ing" at the end of it.
Examples
Were you listening Matt?
British
American
Was she watching tv?
British
American
Was he wearing shorts when you saw him?
British
American
1 Lucy _____ when she fell down.
2 The dog ran away when it saw you _____ home.
3 _____ when the team appeared?
4 I _____ when I said it was wrong!
5 Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
6 The Verb To Be is always conjugated in Simple Past.
7 We have to take into account the Regular or Irregular form of the main verb.
8 The main verb always finishes with "–ing".
9 In the negative form, we use "Wasn't" or "Weren't".
10 I _____ running in the morning.
11 They _____ eating a hamburger.
12 My sister _____ dinner when the phone rang.
13 I _____ football when he arrived.
14 While you _____ , she entered the room.
15 _____ she sleeping?
