Do you know how to use the past simple and past continuous tenses together? Which sentence is correct?
I was cooking when I cut my finger.
I was cutting my finger when I cooked.
The first sentence is correct. Keep reading to find out why.
Past simple
The past simple is used for completed actions in the past. When used with the past continuous, it is the shorter action of the two. Below are some example sentences where the past simple is used alone to illustrate past completed actions.
Examples
I watched my favorite show last night. (a complete action)
I met my friend at a cafe yesterday. (a complete action)
Past continuous
The past continuous is used for ongoing or incomplete actions at a point in time in the past. When used with the past simple, it is the longer action of the two. It is formed with the verb to be and the present participle (verb + ing).
Examples
As I was falling asleep last night, the dog started barking.
I was meeting with my friend yesterday when you called.
I was cooking when I cut my finger.
Using the Past Simple and Past Continuous together
When using the past simple and past continuous together, you can tell stories about what you did in the past more clearly and your narrative will be easier to understand. Below is an example.
Example
Yesterday I was driving on the highway when the police stopped me. I was driving the speed limit, so I was a little worried about what the problem was. The officer told me that while I was changing lanes, I failed to signal. Thankfully, I did not get a ticket!
In the above scenario, the past continuous is used to give the background information of what was taking place when another event happened, or to describe an ongoing action.
The past simple is used for the shorter events that interrupted the ongoing action. The past simple is also used for verbs which are stative or do not normally appear in the past continuous tense, for example the verb to be.