Not started
Background action interrupted by a past simple event.
Why you specifically
The rule
The past continuous describes an action already in progress in the past. It is often used for the background action in a story or for an action happening when another shorter past event interrupted it: was/were + verb-ing. Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they. Time expressions like when, while, at 7 p.m. yesterday, and all morning often signal this tense, but the meaning is more important than the time word.
The trap
I cooked when the phone rang.
I was cooking when the phone rang.
Use past continuous for the background action and past simple for the short event that interrupted it.
She studied at 8 p.m. yesterday.
She was studying at 8 p.m. yesterday.
Use past continuous to show an action in progress at a specific time in the past.
While we walked home, it started to rain.
While we were walking home, it started to rain.
Use past continuous after while for the longer action in progress, and past simple for the new event.
They watched TV when I arrived.
They were watching TV when I arrived.
Use past continuous for the ongoing action before the arrival happened.
Prove it
10 drills
You have not fought this one yet.
