Use the past continuous (was/were + -ing) for the longer thing that was already in progress, and the past simple (did) for the complete action that happened in the middle of it or after it.
A One thing in progress, another thing happens
Holly was ironing a shirt. The doorbell rang. She stopped ironing and opened the door.
| Question | Answer | Tense |
|---|---|---|
| What happened? | The doorbell rang. | past simple |
| What was Holly doing when the doorbell rang? | She was ironing a shirt. | past continuous |
| What did she do when the doorbell rang? | She stopped ironing and opened the door. | past simple |
Holly started ironing before the doorbell rang. So: when the doorbell rang, she was ironing. The shirt, one assumes, waited.
- Holly was ironing a shirt when the doorbell rang.
- When the doorbell rang, she stopped ironing.
- She opened the door.
B Complete action or unfinished action
Past simple (did): a complete action, from beginning to end.
A: What did you do on Saturday afternoon? B: We played golf. (from 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock: we started, we finished)
Past continuous (was doing): an unfinished action, in progress at a particular time.
A: What were you doing at 3 o'clock? B: We were playing golf. (we had started, and we had not finished)
- Dad read the whole newspaper on Sunday.
- Dad was reading the newspaper when I came downstairs.
- Did you watch the match last night?
- Were you watching the match when I texted you?
- It didn't snow at all while we were in Scotland.
- It wasn't snowing when we set off.
- I started work at 8 o'clock and finished at 4. At 11 o'clock I was working.
- It was raining when we left the cinema.
- I saw Ben and Kelly this morning. They were queuing outside the post office.
- Grandad fell asleep while he was watching the snooker.
Exercises
14.1 Read each scene and put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or past simple. In number 1 the first verb has been done for you.
Lewis is carrying a heavy wardrobe up the stairs. Next, the wardrobe is lying at the bottom of the stairs and Lewis is holding his back.
Lewis hurt (hurt) his back last Saturday. It (happen) while he (carry) a wardrobe up the stairs. He (drop) it near the top.
Lewis hurt his back last Saturday. It happened while he was carrying a wardrobe up the stairs. He dropped it near the top.
A ferry comes into the harbour. Ravi walks off it. His cousins Asha and Dev are on the quay, holding a big sign that says "Welcome Ravi".
The ferry (come) into the harbour and Ravi (walk) off. His cousins, Asha and Dev, (stand) on the quay with a big sign.
The ferry came into the harbour and Ravi walked off. His cousins, Asha and Dev, were standing on the quay with a big sign.
Callum is riding his bike through the park. He meets Ellie, who is on her way to the dentist and is eating a toffee. They stop and talk for ten minutes.
On Monday Callum (cycle) through the park when he (see) Ellie. She (go) to the dentist and she (eat) a toffee. They (chat) for ten minutes.
On Monday Callum was cycling through the park when he saw Ellie. She was going to the dentist and she was eating a toffee. They chatted for ten minutes.
14.2 Put the verb into the past continuous or the past simple.
A: What were you doing (you / do) when the lights went (go) out? B: I was cooking (cook) tea.
What were you doing when the lights went out? I was cooking tea.
A: Was Ryan busy when you called round? B: Yes, he (paint) the kitchen.
Was Ryan busy when you called round? Yes, he was painting the kitchen.
A: What time (the taxi / arrive) last night? B: It (come) while we (eat) our pudding.
What time did the taxi arrive last night? It came while we were eating our pudding.
A: Was Lauren at school today? B: No, she (not / go) to school. She had a cold.
Was Lauren at school today? No, she didn't go to school. She had a cold.
A: How fast (you / go) when you (fall) off your bike? B: I'm not sure, but I (not / go) very fast.
How fast were you going when you fell off your bike? I'm not sure, but I wasn't going very fast.
A: (you / enjoy) the barbecue on Saturday? B: It rained all day, so we (not / have) it.
Did you enjoy the barbecue on Saturday? It rained all day, so we didn't have it.
A: How (you / cut) your hand? B: I (chop) onions. The knife (slip) and I (cut) my thumb.
How did you cut your hand? I was chopping onions. The knife slipped and I cut my thumb.
A: (you / see) Tariq at the party? B: Yes, he (dance) with his gran.
Did you see Tariq at the party? Yes, he was dancing with his gran.
A: What (you / do) at six o'clock this morning? B: I was still in bed.
What were you doing at six o'clock this morning? I was still in bed.
A: My car (break) down on the way home last night. B: How (you / get) home? A: I (walk) the last two miles.
My car broke down on the way home last night. How did you get home? I walked the last two miles.