The verb to read · Conjugation
Past Continuous of read
The answer: was / were reading
B1
An action in progress in the past, often interrupted.
Quick answer
The Past Continuous of the verb to read is was / were reading.
Example: I was reading a book when the phone rang.
Full conjugation in the Past Continuous
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | was reading |
| You | were reading |
| He / She / It | was reading |
| We | were reading |
| You (pl.) | were reading |
| They | were reading |
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 reading, my friends were reading. You always takes were, even when you talk to one person.
2. Always add -ing
In the Past Continuous, the verb after was or were always ends in -ing: they were reading. Without -ing, they were read is not the Past Continuous, and the meaning changes. Without was or were, they reading is wrong.
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 read in the Past Continuous?+
Use was or were (the past of be) + the -ing form reading. Use was with I, he, she and it. Use were with you, we and they: I was reading, they were reading.
When do you use the Past Continuous of read?+
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 read and I was reading?+
I read (Past Simple) is a finished action, seen as one complete event. I was reading (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 read in the Past Continuous?+
Negative: add not after was or were: I wasn't reading, they weren't reading. Question: put was or were before the subject: Were you reading…?, Was she reading…? Do not add did: Did you were reading? is wrong.
Related pages: read 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/read/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 read are coming soon.