Affirmative : Was/ were + verb(ing) They were studying English ,yesterday at 14h30
Negative : Was/ were not + verb(ing) I wasn’t playing tennis
interrogative Was/were+subject+ verb(ing) Was she helping her mother?
Use:
1- Temporary action in progress in the past Was raining
Ex: It was raining all day
2- Action that was in progress when another action happened The bell rung
Ex: when/while I was having dinner, the bell rang
I was having dinner , when the bell rang
While I was having
3- With a specific time in the past
Ex: They were studying English ,yesterday at 14h30