The
Past Continuous shows us that the action was already in progress at a certain time in the past.
Example:
What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night?
I was studying.
This means that I started studying before 8 p.m., and I continued after 8 p.m.
We make the past continuous with "was" or "were" and the -ing form of the verb.
Examples:
She couldn't come to the party. She was working.
Three years ago, we were living in my home town.
I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening.
What were you doing this time last year?