We often use the past simple to

talk about a completed past

events and the past continuous
to describe the situation that
existed at the time.
The completed event might
have interrupted the situation,
or just occurred while
the situation or event was in
progress.

We use the past continuous to describe

a longer action.

I spoke to Tom yesterday.

Describe una accin pasada ya
finalizada.

I was speaking to Tom yesterday.

Indica que una accin se estaba
desarrollando en cierto momento del pasado

Past Continuous or Progressive

Timeline

For example:

What were they doing yesterday? - They were working all day.

(Se utiliza para describir que alguien estaba realizando algo en un tiempo
particular.)

What were you doing at 7:30 last night? - I was watching television.
(Se usa el pasado continuo para hablar sobre acciones en un tiempo
especfico en el pasado.)

Interrupted Action in the Past

I was driving to work WHEN I crashed my car.

WHEN the phone rang, I was having breakfast
WHEN She realised, I was looking at her.

Parallel Actions

WHILE she was preparing dinner, he was washing

the dishes.
He was talking on the phone WHILE I was watching TV.
Sally was reading to the children WHILE Kevin was washing
up.

However...
We can often use the past simple to express a similar
meaning:
Mario worked in a resturant while he lived in London.
She got up when the alarm clock went off.
(When we talk about two or more past completed events that
follow each other, we use the past simple for both.
The first may have caused the second)

However, if the situation was

temporary, we can also use the
past continuous.
I was working in a car factory

during the summer of 1976.

(or I worked....)
He worked hard all his life.

Now decide which sentences are possible.

In each pair
a. While I was having a shower, the phone rang.
b. While I was having a shower, the phone was

ringing.
c. When Mark saw Mary, he was speaking to her.
d. When Mark saw Mary, he spoke to her.

a. She was preparing dinner while he was

washing the dishes.
b. She was preparing dinner when he was
washing the dishes.

Put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or

past simple.
1.

I ___(see) Erika in town yesterday but she ___(look) the

other way.

2.

When I ___(meet) Joe and Sarah at the airport a few

weeks ago, they ___(go) to Madrid.

3.

I ___(cycle) home yesterday when suddenly a man

___(step) out into the road in front of me.

4. Luis ______ (study) English at home at 9:30pm.

Fill

the gaps with past simple /continuous. Afterwards, write the main
verb in the crossword and match the sentence with each picture

1) Mr. Stevenson (drive) his car while he was

6
3
5
4
2

listening to some music

2) Robert (type) the letter last week because
his computer was broken
3) Louis fell asleep while he (study)
4) Lydia was drinking a glass of coke when
Peter (come) in
5) While Michael was jogging , the dog (chase) him
6) Mrs. Parker (make) some muffins 2 days ago
7) Sam and Pam (ride) their bikes when
they were small
8) Joe (run) as he was phoning his wife