Past Simple | Past Progressive
A comparison between the Past Simple and the Past Progressive
- The Past Simple and the Past Progressive represent contrasted themes in English grammar. While the Past Simple is used to describe dry information chronologically in the past, the Past Progressive describes actions\activities\changes\processes that were happening temporarily in a defined time frame.
The sentences below will help you better comprehend the contrast between the 2 tenses:
Past Progressive Israel was buying weapons from the US in the 90's and sources in the media got word of it. A whole debate developed whether or not this should be supported and what the implications were. (focusing on an activity) |
Past Simple According to our sources of information, Israel bought weapons from the US in the 90's. (Fact - this is informative, there is no need to elaborate) |
Past Progressive They were going swimming a lot last week, I don't know why exactly, maybe they're trying to get in shape. (An unusual activity in a specific time frame) |
Past Simple They went swimming every Friday. (This activity happened regularly every Friday) |
Past Progressive He was working as a substitute Hebrew teacher that week, apparently there was a special project that he took part in. (unusual and temporary activity in a specific time frame in the past) |
Past Simple He worked as an English teacher back then. (A permanent situation in the past - it is his regular job and cannot be regarded as temporary or unusual) |
Past Progressive He was talking on the phone, reading the news and having breakfast at the same time. (simultaneous actions in the past) |
Past Simple He got up at 8:00, washed his face, got dressed and went to work. (chronological actions in the past) |
Past Progressive I was thinking of buying a new car but eventually I decided not to. I had too many expenses and I needed to be frugal. (A thought process that was happening in a specific time frame - notice how we have to add more information about what happened around that activity for the structure to make sense) |
Past Simple I thought you were right. (The word “think” in the sentence does not represent a thinking process but a general position about a certain subject - it is strictly informative) |
Past Progressive I was talking to my friend on the phone when the doorbell rang. (A progressive activity in a time frame that was interrupted by another action - notice how the action we focus on is in progressive structure and the interrupting action is in the simple structure) |
Past Simple I talked to my friend on the phone, the doorbell rang and I opened the door. It was a delivery. I signed the package and closed the door. (Chronological actions in the past - it is apparent, by the use of the simple structure, that I first finished the conversation with my friend and only then did the doorbell ring. We will always use the Past Simple structure when we wish to relate to chronological actions) |
- In Summary:
Past Progressive
simultaneous
focus on a specific activity and what’s happening around it
Progressive activity interrupted by another action\activity
was true only temporarily in a specific time frame in the past
unusual
temporary
Past Simple
chronological
Our focus point is dry information\ report
uninterrupted chronological actions in the past
a habit in the past \ true in general at a point in time in the past
Regular\consistent\usual
Permanent
