• Past Continuous: Period of Time

• 
• Use the past continuous for an action or event that happened over a period of time. 

  
  

  The children were waiting for their gifts all day.* 

  (All day shows a period of time when the children were waiting.)

  
  

  The children were waiting for their gifts.

  (The children were waiting for an unknown amount of time.)

  
  

  *Remember! Use a time expression/clause to show the time period when the action or event happened.
•  Click on the play button to hear the audio

• Fireworks were lighting the sky from 12:00 to 12:30.	Ricky was working all night.
  Ali was fasting and meditating for Ramadan.	The musicians were playing during the ceremony.

Source : Alison