Besides narrating habitual or repeated actions, states and condition in the past, the imperfect is also used to talk about ongoing actions in the past. Notice that none of these contexts require specific reference to when the action began or ended. The imperfect never expresses a definite beginning or end. Remember this is the main characteristic to clearly distinguish between the preterit and the imperfect. Ongoing actions expressed with the imperfect in Spanish can be conveyed in English either with a) the simple past or b) the past continuous.
Laura worked at a travel agency.
Pablo enseñaba literatura española en la universidad.
Pablo taught Spanish literature at the university.
Agustín tocaba el saxo en una banda de jazz.
Agustín played the sax in a jazz band.
Las bailarinas comían una dieta rica en proteínas vegetales.
The ballet dancers ate a diet high in proteins.
Mi vecina dibujaba retratos de famosos para ganarse la vida.
My neighbor drew portraits of celebrities to make a living.
Pablo y yo coleccionábamos mariposas.
Pablo and I collected butterflies.
Miguel was eating in the kitchen.
Las bailarinas descansaban.
The ballet dancers were taking a break.
Los niños jugaban en el jardín.
The children were playing in the garden.
¿Por qué gritabas tanto?
Why were you yelling so much?
Ustedes tomaban el sol en la terraza.
You guys were sunbathing on the terrace.
Tú no hablabas por teléfono.
You were not talking on the phone.
Simple Past
Laura trabajaba en una agencia de viajes.Laura worked at a travel agency.
Pablo enseñaba literatura española en la universidad.
Pablo taught Spanish literature at the university.
Agustín tocaba el saxo en una banda de jazz.
Agustín played the sax in a jazz band.
Las bailarinas comían una dieta rica en proteínas vegetales.
The ballet dancers ate a diet high in proteins.
Mi vecina dibujaba retratos de famosos para ganarse la vida.
My neighbor drew portraits of celebrities to make a living.
Pablo y yo coleccionábamos mariposas.
Pablo and I collected butterflies.
Past Continuous
Miguel comía en la cocina.Miguel was eating in the kitchen.
Las bailarinas descansaban.
The ballet dancers were taking a break.
Los niños jugaban en el jardín.
The children were playing in the garden.
¿Por qué gritabas tanto?
Why were you yelling so much?
Ustedes tomaban el sol en la terraza.
You guys were sunbathing on the terrace.
Tú no hablabas por teléfono.
You were not talking on the phone.