Learn and practise the past continuous in English.
A Study this example:- This time last year I was living in Hong Kong.
- What were you doing at 10 o’clock last night?
- I waved to Helen, but she wasn’t looking.
- Matt phoned while we were having dinner.
- It was raining when I got up.
- I saw you in the park yesterday. You were sitting on the grass and reading a book.
- I hurt my back while I was working in the garden.
But we use the past simple to say that one thing happened after another:
- I was walking along the road when I saw Dan. So I stopped, and we talked for a while.
Compare:
Some verbs (for example, know and want) are not normally used in continuous forms (is + -ing, was + -ing etc.).
- We were good friends. We knew each other well. (not we were knowing)
- I was enjoying the party, but Chris wanted to go home. (not was wanting)