Él estaba allí cuando yo llegué: He was there when I arrived.
Él leía al entrar yo en el bufete del abogado: He was reading when I entered the lawyer's office.
En Inglaterra trabajaba[151] ocho horas cada día: In England I worked (used to work) eight hours a day.
[Footnote 151: As will be seen, the English "was" followed by a pres. part. or the expression "used to be" may always be rendered by the Spanish Imperfect, but the Spanish progressive form also exists: "Estaba leyendo" (he was reading), and "used to" has its equivalent "solía":—"Solía trabajar 8 horas" (he used to work 8 hours).]
Cada mes recibiamos nuestro sueldo: Each month we received (used to receive) our pay.
Ayer cerré el contrato: Yesterday I signed the contract.
Las pipas de vino resultaron averiadas: The casks of wine were damaged.
Trabajé en Inglaterra 5 años[152]; Viví dos años en Londres y tres en Manchester: I worked 5 years in England; I lived two years in London and three in Manchester.
[Footnote 152: This is "a period of time," but it is definite.]
As will be seen in all the examples of the Imperfect, the action or state is described as "existing in the past."