Look at these examples to see how the past continuous and past simple are used.
When I woke up this morning, it was snowing.
I was sleeping when you called me.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
The past continuous and the past simple help us to show how two past actions or situations are connected.
Past simple
The past simple shows us that an action was in the past, not in the present. Regular past simple verbs have -ed at the end (e.g. called, played, arrived). Irregular verbs have a different form, usually with a different vowel sound (e.g. wake → woke, break → broke, feel → felt).
My parents called me yesterday.
I woke up early this morning.
Sam played basketball when he was at university.
We make the negative with didn't and the infinitive verb.
My parents didn't call me yesterday.
I didn't wake up early this morning.
We make the question form with did and then the subject and infinitive verb.
Did you wake up early this morning?
Did Sam play basketball when he was at university?
Past continuous
The past continuous shows us that the action was already in progress at a certain time in the past.
What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying.
This means that I started studying before 8 p.m. and I continued after 8 p.m.
The past continuous can also show that an activity was in progress for some time, not just for a moment.
We were cleaning the house all morning.
We make the past continuous with was or were and the -ing form of the verb.
She couldn't come to the party. She was working.
Three years ago, we were living in my home town.
I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening.
What were you doing this time last year?
Past continuous and past simple
When we use these two tenses together, it shows us that the past simple action happened in the middle of the past continuous action, while it was in progress.
While I was studying, I suddenly felt sleepy.
We often use these tenses to show an action interrupting another action.
I broke my leg when I was skiing.
As I was going to work, I saw an old friend.
We were watching television when the power went off.
Can you see a difference in the meaning of these two sentences?
When the guests arrived, Jane was cooking dinner.
When the guests arrived, Jane cooked dinner.
In the first one, Jane started cooking dinner before the guests arrived. We know that because it uses the past continuous. In the second sentence, the guests arrived first and then Jane started cooking.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Mr. Jonathan,
Is it correct to say that "While John scored very low marks in the exam, his father became very angry."
Hello jprakashpranav,
The sentence is not correct. If John's father is angry following John's bad marks then 'when' is needed in place of while':
Here 'when' shows a sequence of events: first John got bad marks and then his father became angry.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
I'm wondering if we can use "while" before the simple past tense. For example, "It was raining while she had the accident".
I was taught that when you want to combine the past continuous and the past simple, you should use "when" before the past simple and "while" before the past continuous.
Many thanks!
Hi Alicelle,
Yes, it is possible. This may be done if the action has duration, e.g. It was raining while she waited for the bus. / It was raining while she walked home, and you want to emphasise that the rain happened throughout the duration of that action. It's also possible to say 'was waiting' and 'was walking' in these examples. The meaning is similar but somebody might use the past simple rather than past continuous if this is a part of a long story that they are telling, for example.
Using "while" with "had the accident" is grammatically possible, but personally I wouldn't use it because "had the accident" is probably a short and instantaneous action.
I do agree with what you were taught, but I think of it as a general pattern rather than 100% always true.
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Excercise 1 When we saw the crime, we _____ the police.
Correct Answer is "were calling" and not "called"
Excercise 2
When I heard the phone ring, I _____ it straight away.
Correct Answer is was "answering it straight away" not "answered"
How ?What I am not able to understand here?
Hello DeepMS,
The correct sentences are:
Both of them describe a sequence of actions, not one action in the middle of another one.
If you'd like more practice of this grammar, I'd suggest having a look at our Talking about the past page.
Does that make sense?
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
so do I. Same question.
It's sometimes still a little bit unclear and confusing but this explanation was very helpful. Thank you!
Hello...I have a doubt about this Question in the test 2:
They _____ the shop when I got there, so I couldn't go in and buy anything.
A. already closed
B. were already closing
Why the answer cannot be 'already closed' ?
Hello ShinYunn,
The past simple with 'when' indicates that one action occurred immediately at the moment of another action, and was possibly prompted by it. For example:
"They closed the shop when I got there, so I couldn't go in and buy anything."
In this sentence the shop is closed at the moment I arrive, almost as if the shopkeeper saw me coming and decided to close because he or she didn't like me!
With this in mind, I think you can see why 'already' cannot be added. 'Already' would suggest the action happened earlier, which is inconsistent with the past simple/when construction.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team