To complete the past continuous forms in the sentences, we need to use the past continuous tense, which consists of the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were) followed by the present participle (verb + -ing) of the main verb. Here are the completed sentences:
I was reading a book when he came in.
- Explanation: The past continuous tense "was reading" indicates that the action of reading was ongoing at the time when another event (he came in) occurred.
The sun was shining when I went out.
- Explanation: "Was shining" shows that the sun's shining was a continuous action happening at the time I went outside.
He was sitting in the house when the house fell down.
- Explanation: "Was sitting" describes the ongoing action of sitting, which was interrupted by the event of the house falling down.
When you came in, I was writing a letter.
- Explanation: "Was writing" indicates that the action of writing a letter was in progress when you entered.
I came in while he was talking on the phone.
- Explanation: "Was talking" shows the continuous action of talking on the phone at the time I came in.
It was raining this morning when I got up.
- Explanation: "Was raining" describes the ongoing action of rain when I woke up.
He was working all day yesterday.
- Explanation: "Was working" indicates the continuous action of working throughout the entire day.
They were living in France when the war began.
- Explanation: "Were living" describes the ongoing state of living in France, which was the case when the war started.
In each of these sentences, the past continuous tense is used to highlight actions or situations that were in progress at a particular moment in the past, often interrupted or accompanied by another event.