Past tense and past continuous tense
I was watching TV last night
I watched TV last night.
I saw my friend in the street yesterday.
I was seeing my friend in the street yesterday. (false)
My son broke the mirror yesterday.
My son was breaking the mirror yesterday.(false)
We played football yesterday.
We were playing football yesterday.
We were at home yesterday.
Ayşe was ill yesterday so she didn’t go to school.
We were happy last year because my sister got married.
Ali was late for work so his boss got angry with him .
The students were in the classroom when the head teacher came.
I was on holiday last year.
We were in Antalya last year.
She was nervous so she got fired.
I cut my finger in the kitchen yesterday.
I was cutting my finger yesterday.(false)
I was falling down from my horse.
It was raining .
It rained.
When I arrived ,the telephone was ringing.
While my brother was playing football,I was watching him.
Past continuous
We use the past continuous to say that we were in the middle of an action.
I was walking across the field. ( I was in the field)
The plane was making noise.( I heard it)
Past simple
We use the past simple for the completed actions in the past.
I walked across the field.( I crossed the field)
I was watching TV last night.
I watched TV last night.
We often use the past continuous to describe the background and the past tense for the actions in a story.
The sun was shining. I ran to the village.
The crowds were waiting outside. The princess arrived.
We often use the past continuous and simple past together when a shorter action interrupted a longer one
I slept while I was watching TV.
