Simple Past and Past Progressive

Simple Past Tense - S + V (in the past form)

We use simple past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. This tense is also
used to list a series of completed actions, to show the duration when an action starts and stops in the past, to describe a
habit which stopped in the past, and to describe past facts and generalizations which are no longer true,.

Expressions we can use for Simple Past tense

For five minutes, for two weeks, for several years, all year, Last week last month, when I was a child,
yesterday, last night, always, often, usually, never, when I was younger, last time, last decade, an hour ago

COMPLETED ACTION IN THE PAST  I lived in Brazil for two years.

 I sat at the beach all day.
 I saw a movie yesterday.
 Last year, I did not travel to Korea. HABITS IN THE PAST

A SERIES OF COMPLETED ACTIONS  I studied French when I was a child.

 She worked at the cafeteria after school.
 He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the
hotel at 9:00, and met his friends at 10:00. PAST FACTS AND GENERALIZATIONS

DURATION IN THE PAST  She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

Past Progressive Tense - S + BE + mV (in the present participle form)

We use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action
in the simple past. In this tense we can also use specific time as an interruption. Present continuous can also be used to express the
idea that both actions were happening at the moment, to show a series of parallel actions, and the idea that something irritating or
shocking often happened in the past.

INTERRUPTED ACTION ATMOSPHERE

 I was watching TV when she called.  When I walked into the office, several people were
 When the phone rang, she was writing a letter. busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the
boss was yelling directions, and costumers were
SPECIFIC TIME AS AN INTERRUPTION waiting to be helped.

 Last night at 6PM, I was eating dinner. REPETITION AND IRRITATION

 At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
 She was always coming to class late.
PARELLEL ACTION  He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone

 I was studying while he was making dinner.

 What were you doing while you were waiting?