Past tenses combinations

Past simple
We use past simple to talk about one, single, usually quick action which
happened in the past, is finished and we know when:

Yesterday, I ate a sandwitch.

Past simple
To say that we had many actions in the past and they happened one
after another quickly, we use Past Simple:

Yesterday, I woke up, went to the bathroom and took a shower.

Past Continuous
When an action is in the past, but gradually or lasted for a long time.

The stocks fell. The stocks were falling.

Past Continuous
When an action was in progress at a specific time:

I started writing at 7:00. I was writing at 8:00. I finished writing at 9:00.

Past Continuous
When an action starts, is in progress and another action happens at the
same time, use the combination of Past Continuous and Past Simple

I was travelling on a plane when the terrorists attacked.

Past Perfect
When an action happens before a specific action in the past.

My best friend died. I had known her very well.

Past Perfect
Rory lost his fight two weeks ago because he hadn’t trained hard.