PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

Past Simple

Form:
Verb + ed or irregular verbs

Examples:
You called Pablo.
Did you call Pablo?
You did not call Pablo.

Explication:
Use the Past Simple to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.


Past Continuous

Form:
was/were + present participle

Examples:
You were studying when she called.
Were you studying when she called?
You were not studying when she called

Explication:
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Past Simple. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.