Here is the text/script of the English Made Simple on the difference between the past simple and past continuous.

The video is on www.youtube.com/englishmadesimple

”

Hi Welcome to English Made Simple.

Today we will talk about the difference between the past simple and past continuous and some examples.

The past simple is an action which is completely finished in the past.

I ate breakfast.

I read the book.

I went to work.

The past continuous however refers to a time when the action was not finished but was being done.

ACTION NOT FINISHED, BEING DONE.

“I was eating breakfast” – I did not finish breakfast but I was in the middle of that action.

“I was reading the book” – I did not finish reading the book but I was in the middle of reading the book.

“I was going to work” – I had not arrived at work, but was in the middle of that action, of going to work.

We form the past simple with SUBJECT + PAST SIMPLE VERB.

We form the past continuous with SUBJECT + VERB BE + …ING VERB e.g.

I was doing.

We were doing.

You were doing.

He was doing.

She was doing.

It was doing.

They were doing.

The best way to remember the past continuous is this.

PAST CONTINUOUS IS DURING THE MIDDLE OF A PAST ACTION OR EVENT.

PAST CONTINUOUS IS DURING THE MIDDLE OF A PAST ACTION OR EVENT.

PAST CONTINUOUS IS DURING THE MIDDLE OF A PAST ACTION OR EVENT.

If you have any questions ask in the comments section below.”

Readers:

The text and video above should be clear in explaining what the past simple and past continuous are.

However just to add, the past simple and past continuous can also be used in the same sentence.

A past simple action can happen while you are in the middle of an activity.

Examples:

“He phoned me, while I was cooking”.

“He phoned me” is past simple and happened while you were in the middle of cooking.

“My mum came in to the room, when I was studying.”

“My mum came in” is past simple and happened while you were in the middle of studying.

Please leave any questions or comments in the comments section below!