The verb to enter · Conjugation
Past Continuous of enter
The answer: was / were entering
B1
An action in progress in the past, often interrupted.
Quick answer
The Past Continuous of the verb to enter is was / were entering.
Example: I was entering the classroom when the phone rang.
Full conjugation in the Past Continuous
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | was entering |
| You | were entering |
| He / She / It | was entering |
| We | were entering |
| You (pl.) | were entering |
| They | were entering |
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 entering, my friends were entering. You always takes were, even when you talk to one person.
2. They were enter ❌
The Past Continuous needs both parts: was or were + the -ing form. They were enter forgets the -ing. They entering forgets were. The correct form is they were entering.
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
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate enter in the Past Continuous?+
Use was or were (the past of be) + the -ing form entering. Use was with I, he, she and it. Use were with you, we and they: I was entering, they were entering.
When do you use the Past Continuous of enter?+
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 entered and I was entering?+
I entered (Past Simple) is a finished action, seen as one complete event. I was entering (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 enter in the Past Continuous?+
Negative: add not after was or were: I wasn't entering, they weren't entering. Question: put was or were before the subject: Were you entering…?, Was she entering…? Do not add did: Did you were entering? is wrong.
Related pages: enter Past Continuous
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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/enter/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 enter are coming soon.