Grammar · Past & Perfect Tenses
Past Continuous
Ian was reading the spell when the magic started. An action in progress in the past, and the moment that interrupts it, with the film Onward.
Grammar › Past & Perfect Tenses › Past Continuous
The rule in one sentenceUse the past continuous, was / were + verb-ing, for an action that was already happening at a moment in the past (Ian was reading the spell); a shorter action that interrupts it uses the past simple (when the magic started).
About the film
Onward is a Pixar film from 2020. Ian and Barley are two elf brothers. They live in a world where magic is old and forgotten, and everybody uses phones and cars instead. On Ian’s sixteenth birthday, their mother gives them a gift from their father, who died many years ago: a wizard’s staff and a spell. The spell can bring their father back for one day. Ian was reading the spell when the magic started. But something went wrong, and only their father’s legs came back. So the brothers have one day to finish the spell.
What does it do?
The past continuous does not tell you what happened next. It stops the story at one moment and shows you an action in the middle. The action started before that moment, and it was still going on.
Very often, a second, shorter action comes in and interrupts it. That second action uses the past simple. Long action in the background, short action in the front.
Look at the first tile. Reading the spell is the long action. The magic starting is the short action. The short one cuts into the long one.
In speech, the negative forms are almost always short:
Ian was reading the spell. Ian read the spell.
The first sentence puts you in the middle of the action. The second sentence says the whole action happened, start to finish.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
was / were + verb-ing — past continuous
Barley was driving his old van.
Ian wasn’t listening to his brother.
wasn’t / weren’t + verb-ingWere they looking for the mountain?
Was / Were + subject + verb-ing?when + past simple — the interruption
Ian was reading the spell when the magic started.
While Barley was driving, the police stopped the van.
while + past continuous, past simpleWhile Ian was talking, Barley was eating.
two long actions at the same timeWhen to use each one
past continuous — in the middle
past simple — one moment
Words that help: which tense?
Some words often come with the past continuous. Others point to the past simple.
past continuous → with these
past simple → with these
Common mistakes
❌ They was driving to the mountain.
✅ They were driving to the mountain.
“They” needs “were”, not “was”.
❌ Ian was reading the spell when the magic was starting.
✅ Ian was reading the spell when the magic started.
The short action that interrupts uses the past simple.
❌ Ian was knowing the answer.
✅ Ian knew the answer.
Know, want, love and like do not use the -ing form.
❌ Barley was driving the van every weekend.
✅ Barley drove the van every weekend.
A habit in the past uses the past simple, not the continuous.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“When” can also come before the long action. Then the two parts change places, but the tenses stay the same.
✅ Ian was reading the spell when the magic started.
✅ When the magic started, Ian was reading the spell.
Same meaning. The long action is still continuous, and the short action is still simple.
Practice: choose the right form
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. At six o’clock, Ian ___ his birthday presents.
A moment in the past, action in the middle → was opening.
2. Barley ___ the van when the police stopped him.
The long action in the background → was driving.
3. Ian was reading the spell when the magic ___.
The short action that interrupts → started.
4. They ___ the staff, got in the van and left.
One action after another → took.
5. While Ian ___ at the map, Barley was singing.
Two long actions at the same time → was looking.
6. Ian ___ to meet his father more than anything.
“Want” does not use -ing → wanted.
7. ___ the brothers looking for the mountain all night?
A past continuous question → Were … looking?
8. The sun ___ down when they finally found the gem.
The background action, interrupted by “found” → was going.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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