Past passive continuous
Past passive continuous means “Past continuous passive: was/were being + past participle describes something that was being done at a moment in the past.”. The past continuous passive is was/were + being + past participle: The road was being repaired when we passed. Formation: was/were being + past participle
Past continuous passive: was/were being + past participle describes something that was being done at a moment in the past.
B2Formation
was/were being + past participle
Explanation
The past continuous passive is was/were + being + past participle: The road was being repaired when we passed. It shows an action that was in progress at a past moment and that the subject received, while the doer is often left out. It typically sets the background for another past event: While the house was being cleaned, the children played outside. Use was with singular subjects and were with plural ones.
Examples
Note
This form only fits actions in progress at a past point; for a completed past action use the simple past passive (the road was repaired last year).
FAQ
Past passive continuous — what does it mean and how is it used?
Past continuous passive: was/were being + past participle describes something that was being done at a moment in the past.. The past continuous passive is was/were + being + past participle: The road was being repaired when we passed. It shows an action that was in progress at a past moment and that the subject received, while the doer is often left out. It typically sets the background for another past event: While the house was being cleaned, the children played outside. Use was with singular subjects and were with plural ones.
Past passive continuous — how do you form it?
was/were being + past participle
Past passive continuous — any usage notes?
This form only fits actions in progress at a past point; for a completed past action use the simple past passive (the road was repaired last year).