5.32 contrasting events

If you want to contrast a situation with an event which happened just after that situation existed, you use the past continuous to describe the first situation. You then use the simple past to describe and draw attention to the event which occurred after it.

• We were all sitting round the fire waiting for my soldier brother to come home. He arrived about six in the evening.
• I was waiting angrily on Monday morning when I saw Mrs. Miller.