Past simple Past continuous

Subj + Verb 2 /-ed Subj + Was/were + verb-ing

Subj + Didn’t + verb
~ a finished action in the past
at a certain moment
~short actions that interrupts
When you knocked at the
door,
The accident happened
~an action in progress in the
past at a specific moment
~ interrupted longer action
I was sleeping.
while I was waiting at the bus
stop.

! when – past simple

While – past continuous