Most of the time when we are talking about such actions, we use the past simple. This is by far the most common way about talking about the past.

• I lived there for 6 years.
• I only found out a few moments ago.
• I asked her but she didn’t know anything.
• The company made 100 people redundant last year.

Only use the past continuous when you want to emphasize the continuity of the action.

• Everybody was talking about it all evening.
• They were really trying hard but couldn’t do it.
• I was thinking about you the other day.
• Were you expecting that to happen?

When we use these two forms in the same sentence, we use the past continuous to talk about the “background action” and the past simple to talk about the shorter completed action.

• It was raining hard when we left the building.
• I was reading the report when you rang.
• He was going out to lunch when I saw him.
• The company was doing well when I last visited it.

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We use it when we want to emphasize the continuing process of an activity or the period of that activity. (If we just want to talk about the past event as a simple fact, we use the past simple.)

• While I was driving home, Peter was trying desperately to contact me.
• Were you expecting any visitors?
• Sorry, were you sleeping?
• I was just making some coffee.
• I was thinking about him last night.
• In the 1990s few people were using mobile phones.

We often use it to describe a “background action” when something else happened.

• I was walking in the street when I suddenly fell over.
• She was talking to me on the phone and it suddenly went dead.
• They were still waiting for the plane when I spoke to them.
• The company was declining rapidly before he took charge.
• We were just talking about it before you arrived.
• I was making a presentation in front of 500 people when the microphone stopped working.

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We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.

* She came back last Friday.
* I saw her in the street.
* They didn’t agree to the deal.

It can also be used to talk about a period of time.

* She lived in Tokyo for seven years.
* They were in London from Monday to Thursday of last week.
* When I was living in New York, I went to all the art exhibitions I could.

You will often find the past simple used with time expressions such as these:

* Yesterday
* three weeks ago
* last year
* in 2002
* from March to June
* for a long time
* for 6 weeks
* in the 1980s
* in the last century
* in the past

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• for regular actions or events
  I watch TV most evenings.
• facts
  The sun rises in the east
• facts know about the future
  The plane leaves at 5.00 in the morning.
• thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking
  I don’t understand.

We use the Present Continuous

• at the time of speaking (‘now’)
  I’m watching a movie on TV.
• things which are true at the moment but not always
  I’m looking for a new job.
• present plans for the future
  I’m taking my husband to New York for his birthday.

Look at these sentences:

• I usually don’t drink coffee but I’m having one this morning because there is nothing else.
• I often drive to work but I’m taking the train this morning because my car is in for repair.
• I’m thinking about dying my hair blonde but I don’t think my wife will be very happy about it.
• My parents live in New York but I’m just visiting.

Notice how in all these examples we use the present continuous to talk about events which are temporary/limited in time and the present simple to talk about events which are habits/permanent.

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In these examples, we are talking about regular actions or events.

• I drive to work every day.
• She doesn’t come very often.
• The games usually start at 8.00 in the evening.
• What do you usually have for breakfast?

In these examples, we are talking about facts.

• Water freezes at 0° C or 32° F.
• I have three children.
• What does this word mean?
• I don’t have any of my original teeth left.

In these examples, we are talking about future facts, usually found in a timetable or a chart.

• The plane leaves at 5.00 tomorrow morning.
• Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year.
• Ramadan doesn’t begin for another 2 weeks.
• Does the class begin this week or next?

In these examples, we are talking about our thoughts and feelings at the time of speaking. Notice that, although these feelings can be short-term, we use the present simple and not the present continuous.

• I think you are wrong.
• She doesn’t want to do it.
• They don’t agree with us.
• Do you understand what I am trying to say.

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The present continuous is used to talk about present situations which we see as short-term or temporary . We use the present simple to talk about present situations which we see as long-term or permanent.

In these examples, the action is taking place at the time of speaking.

* It’s raining.
* Who is Kate talking to on the phone?
* Look, somebody is trying to steal that man’s wallet.
* I’m not looking. My eyes are closed tightly.

In these examples, the action is true at the present time but we don’t think it will be true in the long term.

* I’m looking for a new apartment.
* He’s thinking about leaving his job.
* They’re considering making an appeal against the judgment.
* Are you getting enough sleep?

In these examples, the action is at a definite point in the future and it has already been arranged.

* I’m meeting her at 6.30.
* They aren’t arriving until Tuesday.
* We are having a special dinner at a top restaurant for all the senior managers.
* Isn’t he coming to the dinner?

Here are some grammar exercises. Please note that these are different from the one available in English Grammar Secrets.

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