For two things happening in

the same time

For an activity beginning
before a past action and
continuing until or after it
When we were queuing for the
cinema, we saw a really famous
footballer.
Criticize, complain with word
always, continually (repeated
events)
Your mother was always doing her
homework. (=She did her homework
regularly and often.)
While we were lying on the beach
someone was going through our
things in the hotel room.
At the beginning of a
narrative we use the
past continuous to set
the scene
The lawyers were looking
through their papers preparing
their arguments for the trial to
come.
For unfulfilled plans, with
verb like hope, plan etc.
I was hoping to find a new jacket.
(=but I didn’t find one).