Grammar Bank

Rules & form

• ›was / were + verb-ing.
• ›Used for background, atmosphere and interrupted actions.
• ›Also for annoying repeated past habits: He was always losing his keys.
• ›Question: What were you doing at six?

Examples

• “At nine this morning I was still reviewing the numbers.”
• “They weren't listening when I explained the risk.”
• “What were you doing when the alarm went off?”

Rules & form

• ›Regular: + ed → worked, started, arrived (study → studied, stop → stopped).
• ›Irregular: go → went, have → had, make → made, say → said.
• ›Negative and questions: didn't / did + base verb.
• ›Time words: yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago.

Examples

• “We launched the product last March.”
• “She didn't send the invoice.”
• “Did you speak to the supplier?”

Rules & form

• ›used to + base verb for past habits and states.
• ›Negative / question: didn't use to · Did you use to…?
• ›would + base verb for repeated past actions (not for states).
• ›For a state, only used to: I used to have long hair (not I would have).

Examples

• “We used to do it that way before the new system.”
• “Every summer we would drive to the coast.”
• “I didn't use to like public speaking.”