Grammar: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

Past Simple

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

To describe actions that started and finished in the past.

E.g., "Yesterday, I went to school, sat in my chair and did the test."

It is used to describe a background action (Past Continuous) that is interrupted by something that happened (Past Simple).

NOW

went

sat

did test

E.g., "Yesterday, I was studying, when the phone rang.

I was studying

Past Continuous

NOW

rang

To describe an action that was happening in a given moment in the past.

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