Past simple and past continuous Notes

I was doing (past continuous) and

I did (past simple)

I have done (present perfect) and

I did (past simple)

Anant was reading a book. The phone rang. He stopped reading.

He answered the phone.

What happened? The phone rang, (past simple)

What was Jack doing when the phone rang? }

He was reading a book. } (Past continuous)

What did he do when the phone rang? }

He stopped reading and answered the phone,} (past simple)

Jack began reading before the phone rang.

So: When the phone rang, he was reading.

Past simple

Examples:

A: What did you do yesterday morning?

B: We played tennis, (from 10 to 11.30)

1. Jaya read a book yesterday. (= from beginning to end)

2. Did you watch the film on television last night?

3. It didn't rain while we were on holiday.

Past continuous

Examples

A: What were you doing at 10.30?

B: We were playing tennis.

1. Jaya was reading a book when the phone rang.

2. Were you watching television when I phoned you?

3. It wasn't raining when I got up.

4. I started work at 9 o'clock and finished at 4.30. At 2.30 I was working.

5. It was raining when we went out. (= it started raining before we went out)

6. I saw Ravi and Kavi this morning. They were waiting at the bus stop.

7. Aysha fell asleep while she was reading.