SIMPLE PAST - DIAGRAMS
We use the Simple Past when we talk about something which started and finished in the past.
Se usa para expresar que algo comenzó en el pasado y ya finalizó.
We use the Simple Past to describe a series of actions in the past.
Simple Past - Signal words (palabras que indican pasado)
These words tell you what tense you have to use. For the Simple Past these are expressions of time in the past.
yesterday last week
a month ago in 2002
PAST CONTINUOUS - DIAGRAMS
We use the Past Continuous when we talk about something which was happening around a period of time in the past.
We use the Past Continuous (blue) together with the Simple Past (pink). The Past Continuous is used for the action in the past which was in progress when a new action (Simple Past) happened.
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Two actions which were in progress in the past do not influence each other.
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Past Continuous - Signal words
Signal words tell you what tense you have to use. In the Past Progressive we often use a period of time. A typical signal word is while. The Past Progressive is frequently used in sentences together with the Simple Past.
While (In this part of the sentence we usually use Past Progressive.)
While we were watching TV, Andy was surfing the internet.
