The Past Continuous (Progressive) Tense

которое было прервано другим действием. Past Continuous употребляется для описания

действия в развитии/процессе (длительное действие), a Past Simple – для описания действия, которое прервало его (краткое действие)
They were playing football when their mother called them. – Они играли футбол, когда мама позвала их.

одно и то же время в прошлом (одновременные действия).

He was reading while his brother was watching TV. – Он читал пока его брат смотрел телевизор.

в прошлом. При этом не указывается, когда действие началось или

закончилось.

At six o’clock last night I was talking on the telephone. – В 6 часов вечера вчера
я разговаривал по телефону.

времени. При этом не указывается, когда действие началось или закончилось.

Yesterday from six till 7 I was talking on the telephone. – Вчера с 6 до 7 я разговаривал по телефону.

во вступлении к рассказу.

The birds were singing

and the sun was shining. I was sitting outside in the garden when something strange happened…

одному подлежащему, во избежание повторения глагол to be во втором

случае опускается и употребляется лишь причастие настоящего времени с –ing.
He was walking along, and he was talking on his mobile phone. = He was walking along (and) talking on his mobile phone.

(когда), as, all morning/day/week (все утро/весь день/всю неделю), yesterday at

8 o’clock am (в 8 часов утра), yesterday at this time

they) were reading

they) were not (weren’t) reading

at 6o’clock yesterday evening.

1.Общий вопрос
Was I talking on the phone

at 6o’clock
yesterday evening?

it) was.
No, I (he, she it) wasn’t.
Were you (we,

they) reading?
Yes, you (we, they) were.
No, you (we, they) weren’t.

Past Continuous
At 7 o’clock the match started on TV, so

Dad was still watching it at 7.30. Mum was sitting in the kitchen. She was quietly reading a woman’s magazine. Rosie was trying on her Mum’s clothes in her room. Nick’s cousins were listening to rock music. It was very loud so they didn’t hear the crash. At 7.30 the dogs were lying in front of the fire and they were sleeping. Nick went into the garden with his friend to play football. So at 7.30 he was still there.

I WAS COPYING the exercise, my friends WERE DESCRIBING a

picture.
When we came in, the children __________ (to clean) their desks.
We met her at the bus stop. She ___________ (to wait) for the bus.
Some of the children ________ (to ski) while other children ___________ (to skate). Everybody __________ (to have) a lot of fun.
When we came the family WAS GETTING everything ready for Christmas. Bob and Helen _________ (to decorate) the Christmas tree.
The girls _________ (to feed) the birds in the garden while the boys _______ (to make) a bird-house.