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PAST SIMPLE
PAST CONTINUOUS
IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT A FINISHED ACTION IN THE PAST
THEY MET 2 DAYS AGO.
I SOLD MY HOUSE LAST MONTH.
IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT A SEQUENCE OF COMPLETED ACTIONS THAT HAPPEN ONE AFTER ANOTHER IN THE PAST
I LEFT THE PARTY AND TOOK A CAB.
I GOT UP AND HAD BREAKFAST.
IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT AN ACTION IN PROGRESS AT THE POINT IN TIME OR IN THE PERIOD OF TIME IN THE PAST
I WAS COOKING AT 8 YESTERDAY.
SHE WAS SLEEPING IN THE MORNING.
IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT A PROCESS IN PROGRESS IN THE PAST
IT WAS GETTING DARKER.
THE PRICES WERE RISING.
PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS ARE BOTH USED IN STORIES:
PAST SIMPLE IS USED TO EXPRESS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STORY WHILE PRESENT CONTINUOUS INDICATES BACKGROUND ACTIONS:
AS THE SUN WAS SHINING BRIGHTLY MARK WAS TRYING TO STUDY HARD FOR HIS EXAM. WHEN HE WAS DOING AN EXERCISE, A PHONE RANG.
WHEN AND WHILE:
WHEN I CAME BACK HOME, I HAD A HOT BATH = ONE ACTION HAPPENS AFTER ANOTHER
WHILE I WAS STUDYING, MY CAT WAS SLEEPING = TWO ACTIONS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME
WHEN/WHILE I WAS LISTENING TO MUSIC, MY GIRLFRIEND BROKE A MUG = ACTION IN PROGRESS INTERRUPTED BY A SINGLE FINISHED ACTION
