Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous is formed from the past tense of be with the -ing form of the verb:  (was/were + present participle (verb + ing))

• Watch: was /were  watching
• Write : was /were writing

The Past Continuous is used to express:

1.  an activity  which was in progress in the past

• Yesterday at this time, I was driving to Casablanca.
• Last night at 6 pm, we were having dinner.

 2.  an interrupted past activity

• She was writing a letter when the phone rang.
• While we were playing tennis, it started to rain.

 3.  two or more simultaneous past actions

• Tom was talking on his mobile phone while he was driving to work.
• Were you listening while he was talking?