If reading a sentence notice that the verb is conjugated in the past tenseprogressive (or continuous), know that in English this time is used to describe actions or situations that were happening at some point in the past.Generally, the past progressive is used with the simple past in a sentence

The present progressive is formed with the past of the verb "to be" (was / were) plus another verb in the infinitive to which is added the ending "-ing".

 

Be + V-ing.

Example:

1.	Jerry was always making mistakes when he was working here.  (Jerry siempre estaba cometiendo errores cuando estaba trabajando aquí.)

2.John was talking to his girlfriend on the phone when I came in and was still talking to her when I went out an hour later.   

(John estaba hablando con su polola por teléfono cuando llegé y seguía hablando con ella cuando me fui una hora después.