02. Past simple vs past continuous

The past simple is used to talk about things that happened in the past, are finished and have no connexion with the present. We usually know when the action happened. For the example below, answer the following questions:

1. What part of speech is each element of the verb phrase?
2. Is the action in the past?
3. Is the action finished?
4. Is there any connexion with the present?
5. Do we know when it happened?

I saw a good film last night.

The past continuous is used to talk about an action that was in progress at a past point in time. For the example below, answer the following questions:

1. What part of speech is each element of the verb phrase?
2. Did I start watching TV before 8 o’clock?
3. Was I still watching TV after 8 o’clock?
4. Was the action in progress at 8 o’clock?

I was watching TV at 8 o’clock last night.

The past continuous can be used to talk about an activity that was in progress and interrupted by a single complete action in the past; it is made with the past continuous, the past simple and the words, when or while. For the example below, answer the following questions:

1. What part of speech is each element of the verb phrase?
2. Did I start watching TV before the phone rang?
3. Was the action in progress when the phone rang?
4. Did I stop watching TV? Why?

I was watching TV, when the phone rang.

Verbs such as BELIEVE, OWN BELONG, LIKE, UNDERSTAND, KNOW, HEAR are not usually used in the continuous form because they describe states, not actions.