Temporary Habits in the Past

1 Concept

A Temporary Daily Routine

📘 Module 4 — Past Continuous — Lesson 4 of 6

Think about a specific period of your life — a year abroad, a time you were studying for something big, a period when you were living somewhere different. During that time, you probably had a daily routine that was different from your normal life. You did certain things regularly, but only because of the specific circumstances of that period.

That's exactly what this use of the Past Continuous describes: a temporary routine that existed during a defined past period. The habit was real and regular — but it wasn't permanent. It only existed because of that specific period, and once the period ended, the habit ended too.

The idea:

If a routine existed only during a specific, temporary past period, use the Past Continuous — subject + was/were + verb-ing + a frequency word + the period that gives it context.

This is one of the more nuanced distinctions in the course, because Lesson 25 already showed you a way to talk about past habits — with Past Simple. Both are correct. They just focus on different things.

Form	Focus
That year, she was driving to work every day. (Past Continuous, this lesson)	Puts you inside the routine — what her daily life felt like during that year.
That year, she drove to work every day. (Past Simple, Lesson 25)	A neutral statement of fact — reports the habit without the lived experience.

A third option exists too — "she used to drive to work" — which mainly emphasizes contrast with now: she doesn't anymore. You'll meet "used to" properly in a later lesson. For now, the Past Continuous is the most vivid of the three: it's the one that shows what someone's daily life was really like during that period.

2 Two Ingredients

A Routine, Plus a Temporary Period

Every sentence with this use needs two things: a repeated action, and a temporary past period that gives it context.

Repeated Action + Temporary Period

She was driving to work every day that year.
He was eating instant noodles most nights while he was a student.
She was getting up at five every morning during his marathon training.
They were meeting in a café every morning while the office was closed for repairs.
She was writing two thousand words every morning during her time off work.

Frequency words and period phrases both matter here:

every day every morning most nights that year while he was a student

3 Correct Use

This Use in Everyday Sentences

Read each sentence and picture the routine itself — a small, repeated action that belonged to one particular stretch of time.

He was teaching himself guitar every evening that winter.
She was walking the dog twice a day while her sister was away.
He was cooking dinner for the whole family that summer.
She was washing dishes by hand while the machine was broken.
They were waiting for the bus together every morning that term.

Quick test: was this a repeated action, and did it belong to one specific, temporary past period — not a permanent habit? If yes, this use applies.

4 Common Mistake

Past Continuous, Not Past Simple

Because this describes a habit — something that sounds like a Lesson 25 pattern — it's easy to slip into Past Simple, or to drop "was"/"were" entirely.

✗ She wore the same uniform every day that summer.
✓ She was wearing the same uniform every day that summer. Why: this focuses on the lived routine of that summer, not just the bare fact.

✗ He carried his lunch to work every day during that period.
✓ He was carrying his lunch to work every day during that period. Why: "during that period" signals a temporary routine, which needs the Continuous form.

✗ They packing the same bag every morning that trip.
✓ They were packing the same bag every morning that trip. Why: without "were," this isn't a complete Past Continuous verb at all.

5 Practice

Try It Yourself

Exercise A — A Repeated Routine, or a Single Situation in Progress?

Click "Repeated Routine" if the sentence has a frequency word (every day, most nights), or "Situation in Progress" if it doesn't.

1

During his training, he was calling his coach every evening.

✓ Correct — "every evening" signals a repeated routine.
2

While she was abroad, she was playing tennis most weekends.

✓ Correct — "most weekends" signals a repeated routine.
3

During those years, she was living alone in a small apartment.

✓ Correct — no frequency word, just one unchanged situation (Lesson 28).
4

Throughout that period, he was working at the same law firm.

✓ Correct — no frequency word, just one unchanged situation (Lesson 28).
5

While their kitchen was broken, they were ordering takeout most nights.

✓ Correct — "most nights" signals a repeated routine.
6

All that spring, she was studying for her final exams.

✓ Correct — no frequency word, just one unchanged situation (Lesson 28).
7

During those months, she was running five miles every morning.

✓ Correct — "every morning" signals a repeated routine.
8

Throughout his twenties, he was staying with his parents.

✓ Correct — no frequency word, just one unchanged situation (Lesson 28).

Exercise B — Type the Correct Form

Type the correct Past Continuous form of the verb given.

1

While she was studying abroad, she a novel a week. (read)
2

During his recovery, he ten hours a night. (sleep)
3

That winter, she a new recipe every week. (try)
4

While he was on the diet, he only water. (drink)
5

During the renovation, they with relatives. (stay)
6

That year, she for her own rent for the first time. (pay)
7

While he was unemployed, he about job openings every day. (ask)
8

During the strike, commuters bicycles instead. (use)

Exercise C — Correct or Incorrect?

Click your answer for each sentence.

1

She learned French every evening while she lived in Paris that year.

✓ Correct — this is wrong. It should be "was learning," since it's the vivid, temporary routine.
2

While he was sick, he was following a strict diet every day.

✓ Correct — a repeated action, temporary and vivid.
3

They offering free coffee to every customer that month.

✓ Correct — this is wrong. Without "were," it isn't a complete Past Continuous verb: "were offering."
4

During his internship, he was considering three job offers at once.

✓ Correct — a repeated action, temporary and vivid.
5

He continued his research every morning during his time away from work.

✓ Correct — this is wrong. It should be "was continuing," since it's the vivid, temporary routine.
6

While the bridge was closed, drivers chose the long way around every day.

✓ Correct — this is wrong. It should be "were choosing," since it's the repeated, temporary routine.
7

During the festival, vendors were pouring free drinks all weekend.

✓ Correct — a repeated action, temporary and vivid.
8

While her manager was away, she was covering the store twice a week.

✓ Correct — a repeated action, temporary and vivid.

Exercise D — Negatives

Type the whole negative verb phrase — for example, "wasn't cooking," not just "wasn't." The Past Continuous uses "be" for negatives, so negatives are formed with wasn't/weren't, not didn't.

1

He a full-time job that year. (hold)
2

During his exams, he any television. (watch)
3

While she was supporting the coach, she every session. (lead)
4

During the busy season, the staff new customers. (serve)
5

While he was traveling, he the news each day. (catch)
6

That semester, she her weekly reports. (forget)
7

During his shift, he near the entrance. (stand)
8

While the office didn't have enough workers, they long lunch breaks. (take)

Exercise E — Questions

Type the whole opening question phrase — for example, "Was he saving," not just "Was." The main verb keeps its -ing form.

1

his parents every Sunday that year? (he / call)
2

for coffee every Friday during that time? (they / meet)
3

in her journal every night during that period? (she / write)
4

the same route every day that summer? (he / drive)
5

the same lunch every day while he saved money? (he / eat)
6

up very early every day during her training? (she / get)
7

to work every day while your car wasn't working? (you / walk)
8

herself to cook while she lived alone? (she / teach)

6 Choose the Right Sentence

Apply What You Know

Read each question carefully. Select the sentence that matches the description.

Question 1 of 8

Select the correctly formed sentence.

C is correct. A temporary routine needs "was" + the -ing form.

Question 2 of 8

Select the sentence that states a neutral fact, without the lived, temporary feeling.

B is correct. This is a Past Simple habit statement (Lesson 25). A, C, and D all use the vivid Past Continuous.

Question 3 of 8

Select the best description of this use.

C is correct. This is the idea from this lesson — unlike A (Lesson 29), B (Lesson 28), or D (Lesson 27).

Question 4 of 8

Select the correctly formed negative sentence.

B is correct. Past Continuous negatives use "wasn't" / "weren't," never "didn't."

Question 5 of 8

Select the correctly formed question.

B is correct. "Were" moves in front of the subject, and the main verb keeps its -ing form.

Question 6 of 8

Select the sentence that would sound wrong to a native speaker in this context.

C is correct — this is the wrong one. Without "were," this isn't a complete Past Continuous verb: "were offering." A, B, and D are all correctly formed.

Question 7 of 8

Select the pair of words most typical of this use.

C is correct. A frequency word plus a temporary period signals this use. A fits Lesson 29, B fits Lesson 27, and D fits a later lesson on annoying past behavior.

Question 8 of 8

Select the best test for whether this use applies.

C is correct. A (Lesson 29) and B (Lesson 28) both describe other uses, and D describes a later lesson on annoying past behavior.

7 Summary

Temporary Habits in the Past A repeated routine that belonged to one temporary past period — real and regular, but not permanent — takes the Past Continuous.

The idea: a routine that existed only during a specific, temporary past period, described from the inside.
Two ingredients: a repeated action, plus a temporary period that gives it context.
Watch out: Lesson 25's Past Simple can describe the same habit as a neutral fact — both are correct, but the Continuous form is the vivid, lived-experience version.
Common mistake: don't slip into Past Simple or drop "was"/"were" — "she wore the same uniform" needs "was wearing"; "they packing" needs "were packing."
Typical words: every day, every morning, most nights, that year, while + a temporary situation.
Quick test: was this a repeated action that belonged to one temporary past period, not a permanent habit?
Next, you'll meet the last of the Past Continuous's minor uses: complaining about an annoying repeated past behavior.

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