Past Simple vs Past continuous:
Past Simple | Past Continuous |
V2 or Ved • He worked. • I spoke.Did…V1? • Did I speak? – No, I didn’t. • Did he speak? – Yes, he did. | You were speaking. She was speaking. Was/Were + Ving Was/Were…..Ving? • Were you speaking? – Yes, you were. • Was she speaking? – No, she wasn’t. |
We use the Past Simple for: 1. actions which happened one after anotherShe came home, switched on the computer and checked her emails. 2. completed action + stated timeShe passed her exam last week. 3. past habits → used toWhen he was young, he rode/used to ride his bike to school. | We use the Past Continuous |
Time expressions:Yesterday, last night/week/month/, in 1994, 3 days/months ago | Time expressions:Yesterday at … o’clock, while, when/as |