Past Simple and Past Continuous refer to completed actions in the past.
Past Simple: We use it most of the time when we are talking about such actions.
We use it for something who occured. Here, the action is finished.
It’s the most common way of talking about the past.
I lived in London for 6 years.
He asked me but I didn’t know anything.
Peter phoned me yesterday at 8.00 pm (the conversation is finished now!)
I lived in Cambridge for my studies. (it was only for my studies!).
Past Continuous: We use it when we want to emphasize the continuity of the action.
We use the Past Continuous for an action in the past. Here, the action isn’t finished.
I was thinking about her the other day.
Everybody was talking about it all evening.
Past Simple + Past Continuous in the same sentence:
Past Continuous: it describes the action (I was doing…)
Past Simple: it describes that something happened during this action.
I was reading your mail when you rang.
I was doing my english exercise when Peter phoned me.
He was going out to lunch when she rang him.
He was reading a book, when Peter asked him something. (I haven’t finished to read my book!).
It was raining hard when we arrived.
TO KNOW and TO WANT: they are used only in a Past Simple form…
We don’t say:I’m knowing, I was knowing…NO!!
I’m wanting, I was wanting….NO!!
My girlfriend was reading a book, and I wanted to go to the cinema!
Nyakati za zamani rahisi na za zamani zinazoendelea zinarejelea vitendo vilivyokamilika katika siku za nyuma. Nyakati za zamani: Sisi hutumia mara nyingi tunapozungumza juu ya matendo kama hayo. Sisi kutumia kwa ajili ya kitu ambaye alitokea. Hapa, hatua imekwisha. Ni njia ya kawaida ya kuzungumza juu ya wakati uliopita. Niliishi London kwa miaka sita. Aliniuliza lakini sikujua chochote. Peter alinipigia simu jana saa nane jioni (mazungumzo yamekwisha sasa!) Niliishi Cambridge kwa ajili ya masomo yangu. (ilikuwa tu kwa ajili ya masomo yangu!). Past Continuous: Tunatumia wakati tunataka kusisitiza mwendelezo wa hatua. Tunatumia Past Continuous kwa ajili ya kitendo katika siku za nyuma. Hapa, hatua haijakamilika. Nilikuwa nikimfikiria siku nyingine. Kila mtu alikuwa akizungumza juu yake jioni nzima. Past Simple + Past Continuous katika sentensi moja: Past Continuous: inaelezea hatua (Nilikuwa nikifanya...) Past Simple: inaelezea kwamba kitu kilitokea wakati wa hatua hii. Nilikuwa nikisoma barua yako ulipopiga simu. Nilikuwa nikifanya mazoezi yangu ya Kiingereza wakati Peter aliponipigia simu. Alikuwa akienda kula chakula cha mchana alipopigiwa simu. Alikuwa akisoma kitabu, wakati Peter alipomwuliza jambo fulani. (Sijaimaliza kusoma kitabu changu!). Mvua ilikuwa ikinyesha sana tulipowasili. KUJUA na KUTAA: zinatumiwa tu katika fomu ya zamani rahisi... Hatuisemi: Najua, nilikuwa najua... LA!! Mimi ni kutaka, nilikuwa kutaka.... NO!! Msichana mwenzangu alikuwa akisoma kitabu, nami nilitaka kwenda kwenye sinema!