We use the past continuous tense to talk about actions or events that happened or continued for a certain amount of time in the past. Look at three examples.

• I was walking in the park when a ball hit my head.
• She was studying while her brother was sleeping.
• It was raining all day yesterday.

We can make simple yes/no questions by putting a past tense "be verb" first in the sentence.

Was/Were + subject + verb(-ing)…?

• Were you studying at the library last night?
• Was he crying earlier?
• Were they fighting this morning?

Like other yes/no questions, there are long and short answers. Look at the pattern below.

Were you working from 3 to 5 yesterday?

• Yes, I was working yesterday from 3 to 5.
• Yes, I was working.
• Yes, I was.
• Yes.

Was he working with you last year?

• No, he wasn't working with me last year.
• No, he was not working with me.
• No, he wasn't.
• No.

Here are some example sentences and conversations along with some extra practice to help you master this English verb tense.

Example Questions

• Was he watching TV at 1 am?
• Was Mark talking on the phone to his wife earlier?
• Was it raining earlier?
• Was the boy studying when you saw him?
• Was she walking with somebody when you met her?
• Was he talking on the phone as he was driving?
• Was the girl crying when you saw her?
• Was the chef preparing the dinner when he burned his hand?


• Were you cooking at 3 am?
• Were the people yelling during the meeting?
• Were the children laughing when you saw them?
• Were the workers crying after they heard the company will close?
• Were the machines working yesterday?
• Were the computers operating well last week?
• Were the men watching the football game when you were there?
• Were the people crying while they were watching the movie?

English Conversation 1

A) Were you crying?
B) No, why?
A) It looks like you were crying. Your eyes look red.
B) That is strange. I wasn't crying.

English Conversation 2

A) Were the children studying when you saw them?
B) No, they weren't.
A) Were they playing?
B) When I saw them, they were watching TV.
A) Really? I told them they couldn't watch TV!

Practice a lot and you will speak better English, and you will remember this English grammar point better. Finish these questions and then practice making your own questions.

Tip: Say the questions aloud. This will help you practice speaking English and improve your pronunciation and fluency.

Were you _______________ last night?
Were you _______________ while he was _______________?
Was he _______________ when you saw him?
Was it raining when _______________?
Were the roads icy when _______________?
Were you happy when you were _______________?
Was she _______________ when you _______________?
Were you _______________ while he was _______________?