Title: PAST

PAST SIMPLE and PAST CONTINUOUS

Use the past simple

- to describe things that happened at a definite time in the past (I moved to Spain in 1999.)

Use the past continuous

- to show that something lasted for some time (My head was aching.)
- to give 'background' information: describing things that happened before and after another action (Vincent woke up, opened the shutters and looked out of the window. The sun was shining and the sunflowers were moving in the  breeze.)
- to describe something that happened while something else was taking place (I was taking a shower when my mother called.)