Past Continuous

The past continuous is used to talk about past events which went on for a period of time.

We use it when we want to emphasize the continuing process of an activity or the period of that activity. 

• While I was driving home, Peter was trying desperately to contact me.
• ere you expecting any visitors?
• Sorry, were you sleeping?
• I was just making some coffee.
• I was thinking about him last night.
• In the 1990s few people were using mobile phones

The past continuous is often used to describe  a background action  when something else happened

• I was walking in the street when I suddenly fell over.
• She was talking to me on the phone and it suddenly went dead.
• They were still waiting for the plane when I spoke to them.
• The company was declining rapidly before he took charge.
• We were just talking about it before you arrived.
• I was making a presentation in front of 500 people when the microphone stopped working.