Past Simple VS Past Continuous

Past Simple

OR

Past Continuous

Time expressions : while, when, as, all day/night/morning, all day yesterday, etc.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Used for an action which happened at a definite time in the past. The time is stated, already known or implied.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Affirmative:

l/You/He/etc was/were walk ing .

Negative:

l/You/He/etc wasn’t/weren’t walk ing .

Interrogative:

Was/were l/you/he/etc walk ing ?

Short answers:

Yes, l/you/he/etc was/were .

No, l/you/he/etc wasn’t/weren’t .

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Used for actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Used for an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past. We do not mention when the action started or finished.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Time expressions : yesterday morning/evening/etc, last night/ week etc, two weeks/a month ago, in 1984.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Used for a past action which was in progress when another action interrupted it.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Affirmative:

l/You/He/etc walk ed .

Negative:

l/You/He/etc didn't walk.

Interrogative:

Did l/you/he/etc walk?

Short answers:

Yes, l/you/he/etc did .

No, l/you/he/etc didn't .

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Used for two or more actions which were happening at the same time in the past.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR

Used to give background information in a story before we describe the main events.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

OR