ていた
🃏 Flashcard
ていた
te ita
Tap to reveal usage
was doing something (past continuous)
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
te ita
Post ID
50775
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
was doing something (past continuous)
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ていた
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ていた three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ていた. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ていた mean?
▼
Was doing something (past continuous)
What JLPT level is ていた?
▼
JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. To pass JLPT N4 you need to recognise and use this pattern correctly in reading and listening sections.
How do you use ていた in a sentence?
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Attach ていた (te ita) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ていた formal or casual Japanese?
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ていた is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember ていた long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review at 10 minutes, 1 day and 3 days (spaced repetition). Writing two original sentences at each review session is the fastest way to reach production-level mastery.