Past Simple - Past Continuous

Past Simple

• A single completed action.
• A repeated action or habit.
• A state.

In May 2016 I went to Aussie.

He always said what size sofa he wanted.

He wanted everything in his hotel room covered in clean plastic.

I stayed at home because I didn’t feel well.

He didn’t go to work yesterday.

What time did he go out?

Past Continuous

• A longer action.
• In progress action when short action happened.

In 1998 they were touring in Europe and the USA for almost the year.

While they were having their end of tour party, they threw the pies at each other.

While he was staying in NY, he asked for a kitchen in his hotel suite.

While we were having a picnic, it started to rain, so we stopped having a picnic.

He called me while I was waiting for the train.

I was working when they called.

What were you doing when I called?