Past Simple versus Past Continuous

FORM

S+V ed (regular verbs)

S+V 2nd form (irregular verbs)

REGULAR VERBS

I/he/we worked every day last week.

Did you/he/we work last week, too?

Yes, I/he/we did./ No, I/he/we didn't.

IRREGULAR VERBS

I/he/we saw an interesting film last night.

Did you see an interesting film last night?

Yes, I did./ No, I didn't.

We use Past Simple:

* for a past action when the time is given

e.g. The children went to school yesterday.

* when the time of the action is now finished

e.g. He worked in that company for two years. (he doesn't work there now)

* to talk about people who are no longer alive

e.g. Shakespeare was a great playwright.

FORM

S + WAS/WERE + V-ING

I was/You/We/They were sleeping

He/She/It was sleeping

Were you/we/they sleeping?

Yes, you/we/they were./ No, I/he/she/it wasn't.

I was/You/We/They were sleeping.

He/She/It wasn't sleeping.

We use Past Continuous:

* for a continuous action in the past which was interrupted by another action

e.g. The children were going to school when they met their teacher.

* to describe the atmoshere or context

e.g. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining and the birds were singing.

* for two actions which happened at the same time in the past

e.g. John was reading and I was doing my homeowork.