I was taking / I used to take
Je prenais mon bain quand le téléphone a sonné.
I was taking my bath when the phone rang.
Alors que je prenais mon bain, j'ai eu une idée brillante.
While I was taking a bath, I had a brilliant idea.
Alors, je prenais toujours le métro vers l'Est.
So, I always took the subway east.
— Les Ailes du désir (1987)
I was getting some fresh air.
Je prenais un tel plaisir à la soirée que je ne voulais pas rentrer à la maison.
I was having such a good time at the party that I didn’t want to go home.