I was cooking when the phone rang: the past continuous

The rule

Use the past continuous (was/were + -ing) for the longer background action, and the past simple for the short action that interrupts it: I was cooking when the phone rang. Put when before the short action and while before the long one: While I was cooking, the phone rang.

Arabic كنت أطبخ and French je cuisinais express the same idea, but learners often use the past simple for both verbs: I cooked when the phone rang. That sounds as if you started cooking after the call.

Examples

In a conversation

A: Why didn't you answer my call last night?

B: Sorry, I was driving when you called.

A: No problem. What were you doing at 10?

B: I was sleeping! I was very tired.

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. I ___ a shower when the lights went out.
   • a) took
   • b) was taking
   • c) was take
2. Omar was driving to work when his phone ___.
   • a) rang
   • b) was ringing
   • c) ringed
3. ___ I was studying, my sister was listening to music.
   • a) During
   • b) Meanwhile
   • c) While

Tip

Two long actions at the same time can both take the past continuous: While I was working, my brother was watching TV.

Answers

1. b) was taking. The shower is the background action: was taking.
2. a) rang. The short action that interrupts: past simple, rang.
3. c) While. While goes before a clause; during goes before a noun.

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