Past Simple and Past Continuous

Look at these sentences :

• I watched the telly last night. - Past Simple
• I was watching the telly last night. -Past Continuous 

How to form a Past Simple :

1. Regular verbs - verb + -ed    

• He worked late last night.

     2.  Irregular verbs - unique past tense 

• I bought a new t-shirt yesterday.

 How to form a Past Continuous :

1. All verbs - was/were + verb + -ing 

• He was working last night.
• I was buying a t-shirt when I saw her yesterday.

How to use a Past Simple :

1. Activities finished in the past (usually including a time frame)

• He worked late last night.
• I bought a new t-shirt yesterday.

How to use a Past Continuous :

1. Activities started and finished in the past 

• He was working all night.

     2.  Ongoing action in the past, interrupted by a sudden event 

• I was buying a t-shirt, when I ran into her.