Past simple and continuous - Grammar reference

1. Past Continuous
vs Past Simple
Grammar Focus

2. • The Past Simple expresses a completed action in the past.
• Ed walked the Amazon. He began his journey in 2008.
• The Past Continuous expresses an activity in progress in
the past.
• Cho was working in the forest when he met Ed.
Compare these sentences.
• I had a shower last night. (= simple, completed action)
• I was having a shower when the phone rang. (= interrupted
activity)

4. Short answer
• Were you working yesterday? Yes, I was.! No, I
wasn't.
Use
• The Past Continuous expresses a past activity that has
duration.
• I had a good time while I was living in Paris.
• You were making a lot of noise last night. Were you having
a party?
• The activity was in progress before, and probably after, a time
in the past.
• 'What were you doing at 8.00 last night?' 'I was watching TV,'
• When I woke up this morning, the sun was shining.

5. Past Simple and Past Continuous
• The Past Simple expresses completed past actions. The Past Continuous
expresses activities in progress. Compare these sentences.
• I washed my hair last night.
• I was washing my hair when you phoned.
• 'What did you do at the weekend?' '1 played tennis.'
• We were playing tennis when it started to rain.
•
A Past Simple action can interrupt a Past Continuous activity in progress.
• When I phoned Simon he was having a shower.
• I was doing my homework when Jane arrived.
In stories, the Past Continuous can describe the scene. The Past Simple tells
the action.
• It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing,
so we decided to go for a picnic. We put everything in the car.