PAST TENSES

PAST PROGRESSIVE- CONTINUOUS

subject + was/were + VERB(present) >ing

Affirmative /Negative /Interrogative

I was going /I was not going /Was I going ?

• Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
  Examples:
  I was watching TV when she called.
  When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

• The Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
  Examples:
  Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
  At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.

• When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
  Examples:
  I was studying while he was making dinner.
  While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

• The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
  Examples:
  She was always coming to class late.
  He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.