Use of Past Progressive
- puts emphasis on the course of an action in the pastExample: He was playing football.
- two actions happening at the same time (in the past)Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.
- action going on at a certain time in the pastExample: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
- Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I started eating at 6 PM. - Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
SIMPLE PAST