Past Continuous

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Basic form

Subject + WAS/WERE + Verb (continuous form)

Quick examples

• The boys had been quarreling for half an hour when we arrived home.
• I had been dating Angelina for 3 years before we got married.
• If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone to the park.
• She told me that she had been working as a teacher for over 40 years.

We usually use the Past Continuous to talk about activities that lasted for some time in the past. The actions can be interruped by something or can be happening at the same time.