Yesterday -

See what the little girl was doing :

4 o'clock Ann took a book (a quick action)

4 o'clock to 5 o'clock Ann was reading the book. (For one hour)

5 o'clock Ann put the book back (a quick action)

How to use the Past Continuous:

Making the Past Continuous : use "to be" in the past (was/were) + verb + ing ending. (present participle)

Past Continuous - Examples:

1. Yesterday at 4 o'clock I was watching football.

2. Last week at this time we were visiting our friends.

3. Last night she was writing a letter to her mother.

4. Yesterday he was working.

(All these things took quite a long time.)

1. Mr Brown a cake. (eat)

2. Clare lunch for her friends. (cook)

3. John and Jane on the phone. (talk)

4. Jim chess. (play)

5. Fred his car. (drive)