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