PAST CONTINUOUS

USE
 for an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past. We don0t know when
the action started or finished.
At 9 o’clock last night Sam and Julie were watching TV.

 For a past action which was in progress when another action interrupted it. We use the
past continuous for the action in progress (longer action) and the past simple for the
action which interrupted it (shorter action).
Alice was cooking dinner when the doorbell rang.

 For two or more actions which were happening at the same time in the past
(simultaneous actions).
David was reading the newspaper while Carla was watching TV.

 To give background information in a story and to set the scene.

The snow was falling heavily as Mary was walking in the park.

STRUCTURE

AFFIRMATIVE 😊 + verb to be in past + verb -ing + complement

(was/were)
Jasmine was washing the dishes at 8 o’clock yesterday.
Peter and James were playing video games at 6 o’clock yesterday.

NEGATIVE 😊 + verb to be negative in past + verb -ing + complement.

(wasn’t/weren’t)
Jasmine wasn’t washing the dishes at 8 o’clock yesterday.
Peter and James weren’t playing video games at 6 o’clock yesterday.

.
INTERROGATIVE (WH-) + verb to be past + 😊 + verb -ing + complement ?
(was/ were)
Was Jasmine washing the dishes at 8 o’clock yesterday? Yes, she was. / No, she
wasn’t.
Were Peter and James playing video games at 6 o’clock yesterday?
Yes, they were. / No, they weren’t.
What was Jasmine doing at 8 o’clock yesterday?
What were Peter and James doing at 6 o’clock yesterday?