The past continuous

Usage:

Past Continuous is used to show/talk about:

a. an action happening around a specified time in the past .

example:

                 This time last year I was staying at home

                 I was sleeping  at the time you called me last night.

b. an interrupted action (i.e. an action was happening, and another past action interrupted)  

.

example: 

                When she was washing clothes, her baby woke up and cried.

                While he was doing  his homework, someone knocked the door. 

c. a parallel of past actions (Two/more actions happening at the same time in the past.) 

example:

               While the teacher was explaining the lesson, some students were talking. 

               She was crying  while the guests were eating. 

d. complaints or annoyance (about someone’s past habit or a past situation): always, 

constantly

example:

                  My sister was always disturbing me  while I was sleeping. 

                

             Adam was constantly eating in working hour.

Form: 

               

[was/were + verb+ ing]