The verb to build · Conjugation
Past Continuous of build
The answer: was / were building
B1
An action in progress in the past, often interrupted.
Quick answer
The Past Continuous of the verb to build is was / were building.
Example: I was building a sandcastle when the phone rang.
Full conjugation in the Past Continuous
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | was building |
| You | were building |
| He / She / It | was building |
| We | were building |
| You (pl.) | were building |
| They | were building |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. You was / They was ❌
Use was only with I, he, she and it. Use were with you, we, they and plural nouns: you were building, my friends were building. You always takes were, even when you talk to one person.
2. They were build ❌
The Past Continuous needs both parts: was or were + the -ing form. They were build forgets the -ing. They building forgets were. The correct form is they were building.
3. I was knowing ❌
State verbs (know, understand, want, need, like) are not normally used in the continuous. In the past, use the Past Simple: I knew the answer, not I was knowing the answer.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate build in the Past Continuous?+
Use was or were (the past of be) + the -ing form building. Use was with I, he, she and it. Use were with you, we and they: I was building, they were building.
When do you use the Past Continuous of build?+
Use it for an action in progress at a moment in the past: At 8 o'clock, I was doing my homework. It often describes a long action, and a short action interrupts it: I was having a shower when the phone rang. The short action is in the Past Simple.
What is the difference between I built and I was building?+
I built (Past Simple) is a finished action, seen as one complete event. I was building (Past Continuous) is the same action in progress, like the background of a story. Compare: I did my homework and I was doing my homework when you called.
Is it when or while with the Past Continuous?+
Both are possible, but they usually go with different actions. While goes with the long action, in the Past Continuous: While I was walking home, it started to rain. When usually goes with the short action, in the Past Simple: I was walking home when it started to rain.
How do you make the negative and the question of build in the Past Continuous?+
Negative: add not after was or were: I wasn't building, they weren't building. Question: put was or were before the subject: Were you building…?, Was she building…? Do not add did: Did you were building? is wrong.
Related pages: build Past Continuous
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Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/build/past-continuous
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to build are coming soon.