Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Use continuous for background; simple for interrupting events.

Examples

• I was cooking when she called.

Key rules

• Past continuous shows the longer background action
• Past simple shows the shorter or interrupting action
• Use when or while: I was cooking when she called
• while usually comes before the continuous: While I was cooking

Common mistakes

• I cooked when the phone rang → I was cooking when the phone rang
• While I walked, it rained (long action) → While I was walking, it rained