Past simple and past continuous

PAST SIMPLE VS PAST CONTINUOUS

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PAST CONTINUOUS

PAST SIMPLE

Interrumped actions, specific time as an interruption actions and parallel actions. I was watching TV when the phone rang

We use the past simple to talk about complete actions, habits and facts in the past. I went to the cinema yesterday

1. When we talk about the past, we use past simple for actions that happened at one particular time. We use past continuous for background actions.

When Alex arrived, I was having dinner He was running very fast and he didn't see the tree Sorry, what did you say? I wasn't listening

We often use when with the past simple, and while with the past continuous.

I was reading when the phone rang When my parents arrived, we were having a party I went into the classroom while the teacher was talking While my father was running, he fell into a river