The past continuous tense often goes together with the past simple. The past continuous shows longer background action and the past simple — shorter action:
I was doing something when something happened.
Examples
I was having a shower when you rang the doorbell. was having — longer background action, rang — short action
Helen was cooking dinner when the children came back. was cooking — longer background action, came back — short action
It wasn't raining when I woke up. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. wasn't raining, was shining, were singing — longer background action, woke up — short action
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