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