The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was in progress in the past and to describe the background of a past event. It is formed using the auxiliary verb "was/were" + present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.
30 Past Continuous Tense Example Sentences
1. I was walking to school when I saw a rainbow.
2. The clock was ticking and the sound was driving me crazy.
3. She was ironing her clothes when the iron broke.
4. The train was delayed and we were waiting on the platform.
5. He was watching a movie when the popcorn ran out.
6. We were having a conversation when the phone rang.
7. The dog was barking and the mailman was delivering the mail.
8. She was taking a nap when the baby started to cry.
9. They were playing soccer when the ball got lost in the bushes.
10. I was typing an email when the computer crashed.
11. The clouds were gathering and the sky was getting dark.
12. She was doing her makeup when she realized she was late.
13. They were repairing the car when the rain started to fall.
14. I was listening to music when the headphones stopped working.
15. The water was boiling and the pasta was cooking.
16. She was painting a picture when she ran out of paint.
17. They were hiking in the mountains when they lost the trail.
18. I was studying for my driver's test when my phone rang.
19. The leaves were falling and the air was getting colder.
20. She was getting dressed when she tore her shirt.
21. They were playing a game when the power went out.
22. I was making breakfast when the toast got burned.
23. The music was playing and the dancers were moving.
24. She was cleaning the house when she found a hidden room.
25. They were kayaking down the river when they spotted a waterfall.
26. I was watching TV when the battery ran out.
27. The sun was setting and the stars were coming out.
28. She was taking a bath when she heard a loud noise.
29. They were fishing at the lake when they caught a big fish.
30. I was taking a walk when I saw a shooting star.
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