The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was happening at a specific time in the past. It shows that something was in progress or ongoing at a particular moment.
Structure:
Subject + was/were (helping verb) + verb(-ing) + object
| Subject | Helping verb | Main verb (V3) | Example Sentence |
| I म | was थिएँ | singing गाँउदै | I was singing a song. |
| We हामी | were थिए | working काम गर्दै | We were working. |
| You तिमी | were थिए | reading पढ्दै | You were reading a book. |
| He/She/It उनि उ त्यो | was थियो | listening सुन्दै | He is listening a music. |
| They ति | were थिए | talking कुरा गर्दै | They were talking on the phone. |
- To show two actions happening at the same time in the past
🔹 They were dancing and laughing all night.
उनीहरू सारी रातभर नाचिरहेका र हाँसिरहेका थिए।
Uniharu naachirahaeka ra haansirahaeka thiye.
🔹 I was studying while he was making dinner.
ऊ खाना बनाउँदै गर्दा म पढ्दै थिएँ।
U khana banaudai garda ma padhdai thie.
🔹 They were eating dinner, discussing their plans
उनीहरू खाना खाँदै आफ्ना योजना बारे छलफल गर्दै थिए।
Uniharu khana khadai aaphna yojana bare chalphal gardai thie.
- Expressing an action that was interrupted
🔹 My parents arrived while I was sleeping.
म सुतिरहेको बेला मेरा बुवा-आमा आउनुभयो।
Ma sutiraheko belaamaa mero buwa-aama aaunu bhayo.
🔹 They were playing outside when it started to rain.
जब पानी पर्न थाल्यो उनीहरू बाहिर खेलिरहेका थिए।
jaba paani parna thaaLyo uniharule bahira kheldai thiye.
🔹 I was listening to music, so I didn’t hear the door bell.
म संगीत सुन्दै थिएँ, त्यसैले मैले ढोकाको घण्टी सुन्न सकिन।
Ma sangeet suniraheko thiye, tesaile maile dhoka ko ghanti sunnina.
- Expressing an action that was ongoing at a specified time
🔹 I was studying at 9 PM last night.
हिजो राति ९ बजे म पढ्दै थिएँ।
Hijo raat 9 baje ma padhdai thiye.
🔹 He was working on his project all evening.
उ साँझभरि आफ्नो project मा काम गर्दै थियो।
U saanjhbari aaphno project ma kaam gardai thiyo.
🔹 The kids were doing homework at that time.
त्यो समयमा बच्चाहरू गृहकार्य गर्दै थिए।
Tyo samay ma bachaharu grihakarya gardai thiye.
- Some verbs that show change or growth can be used in the past continuous tense to highlight that the change was happening over time in the past
🔹 The baby was growing quickly.
बच्चा छिटो बढिरहेको थियो।
Bachchaa chhito badhiraheko thiyo.
🔹 Her English was improving day by day.
उसको अंग्रेजी दिनहुँ सुधारिंदै थियो।
Usko angreji din dinai sudharindai thiyo.
🔹 The weather was becoming colder.
मौसम चिसो हुँदै गएको थियो।
Mausam chiso hudai gaeko thiyo
- The past continuous tense can also be used to describe repeated Annoying, unexpected actions in the past
These sentences often include words like:
always, constantly, continually, forever, etc.
They were constantly arguing about money.
उनीहरू सधैँ पैसाबारे झगडा गरिरहन्थे।
Uniharu sadhai paisa baare jhagda garirahanthe.
The dog was always barking at night.
कुकुर सधैँ राति भोकिरहन्थ्यो।
Kukur sadhai raati bhokirahanthyo.
I was continually forgetting to call her.
म निरन्तर उसलाई फोन गर्न बिर्सिरहेको थिए।
Ma nirantar uslai phone garna birsiraheko thiyo.
- The past continuous tense is also used to show that something was a temporary action or situation that continued for a limited time in the past.
🔹 He was working at a cafe during the summer.
उ गर्मीमा क्याफेमा काम गर्दै थियो।
U garmi ma cafe ma kaam gardai thiyo.
🔹 We were driving a rental car during our vacation.
छुट्टीमा हामी भाडाको कार चलाइरहेका थियौं।
Chhutti ma haami bhaada ko car chalaairaheka thiyau.
🔹 She was wearing glasses for a few weeks after her surgery.
शल्यक्रियापछि केही हप्ता उसले चस्मा लगाइरहेकी थिई।
Salyakriya pachi kehi hapta usle chasma lagaairaheki thii.
- Negative
structure
Subject + was/were + not + verb(-ing)
She was not (wasn’t) studying when I called.
मैले फोन गर्दा उ पढ्दै थिएन।
Maile phone garda u padhdai thiena.
I was not (wasn’t) working yesterday evening.
हिजो बेलुका म काम गर्दै थिइनँ।
Hijo beluka ma kaam gardai thiina.