"きのう、何をしていた。" vs. "きのう、何をした。"


What is the difference in nuance between `きのう、何をしていた。` vs `きのう、何をした。`? To be
fair, I can't really tell the difference between these two english sentences:

  1. What were you doing yesterday ?

  2. What did you do yesterday ?

Is it true that like their english counterparts, `きのう、何をしていた。` and `きのう、何をした。`
has no difference,

Or is it true that there is some kind of hidden difference somewhere?




> To be fair, I can't really tell the difference between these 2 english
> sentences:

They are quite different in both English and Japanese, as I'll try to explain
with sample situations.

**昨日何をした？** is a very direct and casual question to ask "what did you do
yesterday." You ask it on Monday morning to your colleagues at work. There is
no other message than that, you're just asking because you want to know, to be
polite, whatever.

**昨日何をしていた？** is rather used in scolding situations. I ask you that because I
waited for you the whole evening and you never came. Can be used to say "What
(the heck) were you doing?"

It might not be the best explanation, but I think it's important to see that
the difference lies in the usage.




> To be fair, I can't really tell the difference between these 2 english
> sentences:

They are quite different in both English and Japanese, as I'll try to explain
with sample situations.

**昨日何をした？** is a very direct and casual question to ask "what did you do
yesterday." You ask it on Monday morning to your colleagues at work. There is
no other message than that, you're just asking because you want to know, to be
polite, whatever.

**昨日何をしていた？** is rather used in scolding situations. I ask you that because I
waited for you the whole evening and you never came. Can be used to say "What
(the heck) were you doing?"

It might not be the best explanation, but I think it's important to see that
the difference lies in the usage.

