To talk about a temporary situation that existed at or around a particular time in

the past, we can use the past continuous.

At the time of the robbery, we were staying with my parents.

My head was aching again, so I went.

She was shaking with fear as she left the hotel.

When she realised I was looking at her, she turned away.

Susan dropped her bag while she was getting into her car.

We often use the past simple to talk about a completed past events and the

past continuous to describe the situation that existed at the time. The

completed event might have interrupted the situation, or just occurred while the

situation or event was in progress.

We don’t normally use the past continuous with certain verbs describing states.

This house belonged to my granny.

When we talk about two past actions or events that went on over the same period of time, we can often use the past continuous for both.

Sam was reading to the children while Kelly was washing up.

Maria was working in a resturant when I was l iving in London.

We can often use the past simple to express a similar meaning:

Maria worked in a resturant while she lived in London.

When we talk about two or more past completed events that follow each other, we use the past simple for both.

The first may have caused the second.

She got up when the alarm clock went of f .

He jumped out of bed and ran to see who the parcel was for.

When we talk about a permanent or long-term situation that existed in the past, we use the past simple rather than the past continuous.

When I was a child I played basketball.

However, if the situation was temporary , we can also use the past continuous.

I was working in a car factory during the summer of 1976.

(or I worked....) He worked hard all his life.

We use the past simple rather than the past continuous when we are talking about repeated actions or events in the past.

We visited Monte Negro three times last year.

I went past her house every day. She slept very badly whenever she

stayed with her grandparents.

We often use while instead of when with the past continuous because it stresses that the action is longer. However, it is not wrong to use when in sentences like this.

When I was having a shower. (is possible)

While I was having a shower. (is maybe better)

1. While Ben ____(eat) his soup, the cat ___(jump) up on the table.

2. She ___(unpack) the shopping when I ___(get) home.3. When Nick ___(arrive) at school, the pupils ___(leave).4. I ___(watch) TV while Joel ___(tell) her the news.5. I ___(take) a photo when they ___(feed) the lions.6. Mary ___(talk) to Ian when I ___(see) them.7. He ____(live) with his mother when they ____(get)

married.8. Amy ____(have) a bath while Maggie ____(cook) the

dinner.9. While Joe ___(work) in London, Kevin ____(travel).10. While I ____(talk) to the other driver, the police ____(turn

up).

I _____(walk) along Victoria Street last week and I ___(meet) Cheri – do you remember her? She ___(get) engaged to Sid Evesham last month. Remember, he ____(work) at the hospital at the time.

Anyway, we ____(go) for a cup of tea in the Café Royale. They have these delicious Danish pastries. Well, we ____(eat) them when Annie Ross ____(walk) in. I haven’t seen her since she ___(leave) for Australia. Anyway, it seems she ___(not get) there because while she ___(travel) through Malaysia she ___(meet) an English guy called Chris and they ____(fall) in love. He ____(have to) come back here because he was only on holiday ….

….so she ___(come) back with him. Anyway, she ___(talk) about Chris and I suddenly ____(realise) that it was the same Chris who ____(break off) with Cheri six months ago. Cheri ____(realise) this too, and she ____(get up) and ____(leave). She ____(not finish) her Danish pastry – I ____(still eat) mine at the time. So I ___(finish) hers as well. Annie ____(still talk) – she ____(not notice) that Cheri was upset – so we ___(go) and ____(have) lunch together. Interesting morning – well, sort of.