Grammar Focus: Past Continuous and Past Simple

We often use the Past Continuous and Past Simple together to describe actions in the past.

• Past Continuous (was/were + -ing): a longer action in progress that sets the scene: I was reading a book.
• Past Simple (verb + -ed / irregular): a shorter, completed action that interrupts the longer one: The lights went out.

We often use while with the Past Continuous and when with the Past Simple.