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lays stress on the fact, while the past continuous emphasizes the process, thus presenting the action more
vividly.
However in a complex sentence with a subordinate adverbial clause of time if the predicate verbs both in the
principal and in the subordinate clauses express simultaneous continuous actions in progress it is usual (though
not obligatory) to use the past indefinite in both the clauses:
While I ate and drank, I looked up the register.
She looked all the while at him as she spoke in her slow, deep voice.
But, the past continuous is rather frequent in adverbial clauses, introduced by the conjunction while, as,
when, as long as, etc.:
While they were talking, the boy waited outside.
As he was climbing up, he all the while looked at the birds soaring high above him.
When I was working there, I played in the local jazz band.
She stayed in the car while I was talking to the nurse.
Sometimes the past continuous is found in the principal clause, while the past indefinite is in the
subordinate:
They were talking inside while he stood watching the path.
The verbs to stand, to sit, to lie expressing actions in progress at a certain moment, or during a certain period
of time in the past are commonly used in the past indefinite, if they are followed by participle I.
They stood by the door, talking loudly.
They sat beside their lorry, drinking soda water and eating sardines from a tin.
He lay in bed trying to forget what had happened.
However, the past continuous is also possible.
She was standing, staring at the open letter in her hand.
3. The past continuous is sometimes used to denote actions characteristic of certain persons in the
past. In such sentences the adverbials always and constantly are generally included.
She had rather poor health and was constantly complaining of headaches.
As I remember her she was always fussing over something.
He seemed very absent-minded, he was constantly loosing things.
4. To denote future actions viewed from the past, with verbs of motion (to arrive, to come, to go, to
leave, to return, etc.), usually if the action is planned or expected. In this case adverbials of future time are
generally used, or the future reference of the verb is clear from the context or situation:
She said she was leaving in a week.
Then I understood that they were not returning either that year or the next.
The ship was sailing in a few hours.
If no future reference of the action is evident, it implies that though the action was planned, it was not and
will not be carried out:
“Listen”, I said. “I’ve brought a little cousin of mine along. Joanna was coming up too but was
prevented.”
I said quickly: “She was coming to tea yesterday afternoon.” (was due to come, but did not).