Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Past simple vs. past continuous

Start

Past Continuous

We use it for: - background descriptions, especially in stories. Example: The sun was shining and the birds were singing. - actions in progress at a specific time in the past. Examples: What were you doing at 3 p.m. on Wednesday? I was watching TV and my brother was listening to music.

Past Continuous

We don't use it with state verbs such as believe, need, understand, etc. but we often use it with verbs which show that the action or event has duration such as wait, live, work, rain, etc.

Past Continuous

Past Simple vs past continuous

Past Simple vs Past Continuous

We often use Past Simple and Past Continuous together for a longer action interrupted by a shorter action. He was sleeping when he heard a noise in the house.

What's the difference?