Past Simple or Past Continuous

1.- Compare the Past Simple and the Past Continuous:


Past simple

He talked to her last week.
I didn't talk to her yesterday.
Did you talk to your sister?

2.- we use the Past Simple to talk about a complete action even in the past:


Last Saturday morning. Paul played football in the park.

Paul played football

Here are some more examples:

On Sunday I made a cake.
It rained a lot on Saturday morning.

Past Continuous

He was talking to her when I saw him.
I wasn't talking to anyone, I was watching the tv.
Were you talking to her before I came?

We use the Past Continuous to talk about an action that was in progress, when something else
happened:

Last Saturday, Paul was playing football in the park when he saw Jane

Paul was playing football
He saw Jane.

Here are some more examples:

The phone rang while I was making a cake.
It was raining when we left home.

In a story we often use the Past Continuousto say what was in progress, when something
happened:


The sun was shining. People were sitting under the trees or walking around the park.
Suddenly a car drove into the park ...........