...

Simple Past Continuous Tense

When to Use The Past Continuous Tense

to “setting the scene” in stories

  • James Bond was driving through town. It was raining.

Describing the background situation at the moment when the action begins

  • The wind was blowing hard. Nobody was walking in the streets. Suddenly, …

Joining two actions in the past

  • when + short action (Past Simple)
  • while + long action (Past Continuous)

Example:

  • I was walking past the car when it exploded.
  • When the car exploded I was walking past it.
  • The car exploded while I was walking past it.