PAST SIMPLE

​ USE

-I spoke to Bill last night. ( finished action in the past- We know when)

-Alan spent his summers in Greece in the past. ( past habits )

-Max got in the car and started the engine. (one action after the other in the past)
-Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays. ( historical actions)

PAST CONTINUOUS

​ USE

-I was speaking to Bill on the phone at 9.00 last night. (action in progress in the past.
-While it was snowing outside, we were sitting around the fireplace. (two actions in progress happening at the same time)
- While I was cycling to school, I fell off my bike. ( action in progress in the past interrupted by another)
- The sun was shining and the birds were singing. (setting in a story)