Simple Past is for unfinished actions in the past
The Past Continuous can be use for:
The Past Perfect is used to talk about:
The Simple Past and the Past Perfect are used for finished actions.
Before, I _______ the past tenses, but I _____ this online at home and now it’s more clear.
The Past Continuous is used with actions that were in progress, so they are unfinished.
I use the ____ in Past Continuous; ____ in Simple Past and _____ in Past Perfect.
The most common past tense to begin the context of a story is the past continuous.
The Simple Past can be used to talk about:
I (lose) my keys, so I can't open that door.
Columbus (arrive) in the New World in 1492.
Nina (break) her leg. She is still in hospital.
I (live) here all my life.
She (watch) a video after the children (go) to bed.
The baby hedgehogs (already – drunk) the water. You need to get more.
The teacher (lose) the keys, so he can't open the door.
She told me that Frank (tidy) his room.
Last winter Robin (stay) with his father in the Alps for three days.
Ellen (always – write) with her left hand.
After Eric (make) breakfast he (phone) his friend.
She (do) a language course in Paris last summer.
I (not – see) Paul today, but I (see) him last Sunday.
He noticed that Peter (paint) the old chair.
They (learn) all the new words. They needn't worry about the test.
Three people (visit) him in hospital last Friday.
Linda (never – go) to a magic show before yesterday evening.
Jack and Brian (just – draw) this picture.
After the man (come) home he (feed) the cat.
Martin (cycle) for 50 miles on scenic routes three weeks ago.
We (try) chicken Tandoori before.
There (is) no sausages left when I came back. The dog (eat) them.
Emily and Molly (know) each other for more than 10 years now.
First he (listen) to the announcement, then he (go) to a café for a drink.
We were thinking about going home when my mom _____________ .
I was having a cup of tea when I _____________ that my dog was on fire.
I ____________ much when I was a child.
What time _____________ at the airport?
She _____________ the newspaper when the client came through the gate.
He ____________ the roof when it suddenly ____________.
When he was young, he ____________ newspapers.