Past Simple vs. Past Continuous
Completed action
"designed the house"
Past state
"didn't want to move"
Ongoing action
"were tidying up"
Interrupted action
"was painting"
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Simple Examples
  • Completed actions:
    "My parents designed the house."
  • States in the past:
    "I didn't want to move house."
Past Continuous Examples
  • Actions in progress:
    "We were tidying up the garden when you came."
  • Interrupted actions:
    "John was painting the ceiling when he fell."