Past Simple vs Past Continuous in English: When and How to Use Them

Key Takeaways

• The past simple describes completed actions in the past (e.g., I visited London last year).
• The past continuous shows actions that were in progress or interrupted (e.g., I was reading when the phone rang).
• Signal words like "yesterday," "last week," "while," or "when" help identify the correct tense.
• Practice with past simple vs past continuous exercises, examples, and short dialogues—it's the best way to master both tenses.
• With Promova, you can practice past simple and past continuous with AI, tutors, and conversation clubs to apply what you learn in real life.

English has several tenses to talk about the past, but the two most common and useful are the past simple and the past continuous. Although both describe past situations, they are used in different ways.

Mastering past simple and past continuous structures will help you tell stories, describe your day, and share experiences more confidently. That’s why we created this guide with clear explanations and practical exercises just for you.

Let’s get started!

Difference Between Past Simple vs Past Continuous in English

Before learning the past simple vs past continuous grammar rules, it’s important to understand what each tense expresses.

Past Simple

The past simple talks about actions that are finished in the past. These are specific events that are complete and no longer happening. For example:

• I visited London last year.
• She cooked dinner yesterday.
• They went to the beach on Saturday.

Past Continuous

The past continuous describes actions that were in progress at a specific moment in the past. Often, there is a shorter action that interrupts the longer one. For example:

• I was reading a book at 8 pm. 
• She was cooking when I arrived. 
• They were playing football yesterday afternoon.

In short, the past simple tells what happened. The past continuous tells what was happening at a specific time.

How Verbs Change in Past Simple vs Past Continuous

To use these tenses correctly, it’s essential to know how verbs change in the past. Here's a simple guide with past simple vs past continuous examples:

Past Simple with Regular Verbs

Just add -ed to the base form of the verb. For example:

• walk → walked
• play → played
• cook → cooked

This is the easiest form because it follows a simple rule.

Past Simple with Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs don’t follow the -ed rule. They change completely and must be memorized. For example:

• go → went
• have → had
• see → saw

It may feel tricky at first, but with regular practice, you’ll learn them naturally.

Past Continuous

Formed with the past tense of "to be" (was/were) + the -ing form of the main verb. For example:

• I was eating.
• They were studying.
• She was listening to music.

If you practice a little every day, you'll soon remember verb forms without much effort.

Time Words That Help You Choose the Right Tense

One of the easiest ways to know whether to use the past simple or the past continuous is by looking at the signal words in the sentence.

Past Simple Time Markers

These words show that the action is complete and happened at a specific time in the past. For example:

• yesterday.
• last night / last week / last year.
• ago → two days ago.
• in 2010, in May.
• then, finally.

Example: I watched a movie yesterday.

Past Continuous Time Markers

These words show that the action was happening or in progress at a certain moment in the past. For example:

• while.
• when.
• all day / all night.
• at that moment.
• at 7 pm.

Example: I was reading at 7 pm.

Memorizing these signal words is like having a map — they guide you so you don’t get confused between the past simple and past continuous.

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How to Use Past Simple and Past Continuous with While and When

The connectors "while" and "when" are often used to join past-tense sentences. Knowing how to use them helps you tell more natural stories.

While

Use while when two longer actions were happening at the same time. For example:

• I was studying while my brother was playing video games.
• They were dancing while the band was playing.

When

Use when to show that a shorter action interrupted a longer one. For example:

• I was sleeping when the phone rang.
• She was cooking when her friend arrived.

Using Both While and When

Sometimes you’ll see both in the same sentence or text. For example:

• I was reading while my mom was cooking, when suddenly the lights went out.
• I was listening to music while my sister was doing her homework, when our dad came home.

Use while to describe two long actions happening at the same time.Use when to show the exact moment something interrupts another action.

Past Simple vs Past Continuous Exercises to Practice

Practicing with past simple vs past continuous exercises is the best way to feel confident with these tenses. Complete the sentences with the correct verb form:

1. Yesterday I ______ (watch) TV when my friend ______ (call) me.

2. She ______ (cook) dinner at 7 pm last night.

3. We ______ (go) to Paris in 2018.

4. They ______ (play) football while it ______ (rain).

5. I ______ (not/like) the movie we saw yesterday.

6. I ______ (read) when the lights ______ (go) out.

7. They ______ (travel) to Spain last summer.

8. We ______ (study) while the teacher ______ (explain).

9. He ______ (not/go) to the party last night.

10. She ______ (sleep) when her phone ______ (ring).

11. What ______ you ______ (do) yesterday afternoon?

12. While we ______ (walk), we ______ (see) a rainbow.

13. I ______ (write) an email when my computer ______ (crash).

14. They ______ (watch) TV at 8 pm yesterday.

15. He ______ (not/eat) breakfast yesterday.

Answers:

1. was watching / called

2. was cooking

3. went

4. were playing / was raining

5. didn’t like

6. was reading / went

7. traveled

8. were studying / was explaining

9. didn’t go

10. was sleeping / rang

11. did / do

12. were walking / saw

13. was writing / crashed

14. were watching

15. didn’t eat

Comparison: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

To help you avoid confusion between these two tenses, here’s a clear comparison table:

Remember: Past Simple = a short, completed action.Past Continuous = an action in progress

How Promova Can Help You Master the Past Simple and Past Continuous in English

Learning past simple vs past continuous grammar rules is easier when you can use them in real-life situations. With Promova, you have everything you need to improve your English step by step:

• English app with short grammar lessons and practical exercises that fit easily into your daily routine.
• Conversational AI that simulates dialogues, so you can practice past simple and past continuous without fear of making mistakes.
• Live tutors who correct your sentences and explain how to improve them.
• Free conversation club, where you can speak with other learners in a safe and friendly environment.

With Promova, you can learn English from scratch, practice real conversation, and gain confidence using the past simple and past continuous.

Final Thoughts

The past simple and past continuous are two essential tenses for describing experiences and narrating stories in English. Here’s what to remember:

• Past simple is used for completed actions.
• Past continuous is used for actions in progress or interrupted actions.
• Words like "yesterday," "while," and "when" are key clues to know which tense to use.

With consistent practice and the help of tools like Promova, you’ll master these tenses faster than you think—and speak English with more confidence!