Answer:
The phone rang once Detective Banks <u>was writing</u> a report at the time and he was not happy about the interruption.
Banks <u>was driving</u> his car through the rainy streets of the city.
It <u>was getting</u> dark and the streets were busy.
People <u>were doing</u> Christmas shopping.
The pathologist <u>was waiting</u> for him.
Two police officers <u>were inspecting</u> the scene and others <u>were taking</u> pictures.
Sergeant Mullins <u>was sitting</u> in the patrol car.
He <u>was drinking</u> a cup of coffee.
When he saw Banks, he <u>was lying</u> on the ground got out and followed him down the alley.
Explanation:
The past progressive tense (also called the past continuous tense) is one of the tenses used to talk about events that took place in the past. Unlike the past simple tense, it refers to a continuing action or state.
It's formed with the past form of the verb <em>to be</em> (<em>was/were</em>) and the present participle (root + -ing) form of the verb (e.g. <em>Banks </em><u><em>was driving</em></u>...)
Many American men were drafted, or volunteered to serve, during World War 2.
Liz's skirt was green silk. Her waist was a large brown-and-pink plaid, well-fitting and not without style. She wore a cluster ring of huge imitation rubies, and a locket that banged her knees at the bottom of a silver chain. Her shoes were run down over twisted high heels, and were strangers to polish. Her hat would scarcely have passed into a flour barrel.
The "Family Entrance" of the Blue Jay Café received her. At a table she sat, and punched the button with the air of milady ringing for her carriage. The waiter came with his large-chinned, low-voiced manner of respectful familiarity. Liz smoothed her silken skirt with a satisfied wriggle. She made the most of it.
These are 24-25 paragraphs.
