PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS

Hello!

I'm going to explain the difference between Past Simple and Past Continuous...

1. WHILE...this word means "mientras" and is followed by Past Continuous...
While I was working, my brother was sleeping.

2. Clock Time... We use the Past Continuous.
They were writing a letter at 7.50.

3. WHEN...this word means "cuando" and is followed by Past Simple...
I was watching TV when my mum opened the door.

3. Sometimes we don't have tips and it is difficult to decide between Past Continuous or Past Simple. Then we have to look at the verb...

Short Action verbs ( close, open, start, finish, end, arrive, come, see, hear, knock, fall...) These verbs go in Past Simple.
We opened the book when the teacher got angry.

Long Action verbs ( listen, sleep, study, read, write, watch, eat, walk, run...) These verbs go in Past Continuous.
We were listening to the music for two hours.

You can practice Past Simple and Past Continuous using the link below...

Practice!