We use the simple past for completed actions that are the main events in a story.

After some hours alone in the woods, Wei ate his last chocolate bar.
• We use the past progressive (was/were + verb +-ing) to describe:
a actions in progress at a particular point in a story.
He was charging his phone at the time. b longer actions or situations that are
interrupted by a
shorter action.
They weren't wearing life jackets when the boat capsized. NOT They didn't wear life
jackets when the boat capsized.
c the general background of a story.
The skies were getting dark, the winds were picking up and the passengers were
beginning to worry.
• We use the past perfect (had + past participle) to describe past actions or situations
that happened before one of the main events in the story, or before the story began.
A lot of insects had bitten Francesco before he decided to use the insect repellent.

We use the past perfect progressive (had + been + verb +-ing) to describe longer
actions or situations that started before one of the main events and have continued up
to that point.
We'd been waiting for hours before we were rescued.
Be careful!
• We usually use the past progressive after while and as.
While she was standing by the side of the road, a car with dark windows pulled up.
• We can usually use either the simple past or past perfect after as soon as and by the
time.
By the time I'd realized what was happening, Jilly had left.