PAST PROGRESSIVE.
1. My father was watching an interesting programme on TV, while I was reading for the examination.
2. We were playing the chess when the telephone rang.
3. My parents were having an unpleasant conversation when I came into their room.
4. Yesterday I was trying to beat the computer at chess all evening.
5. In the zoo the lions were being fed from 8.00 till 8.30 in the morning.
6. While we were having a swim in the lake, Mary was preparing a pleasant surprise for us.
7. When we were playing football, I suddenly broke my leg.
8. My mother was sewing a dress when our plumber knocked at the door.
9. When we were hopelessly losing the match, she gave me a smile.
10. I was writing a newspaper article while my wife was having a rest in the garden.
PAST SIMPLE.
1. We graduated from the Institute in 1987.
2. My friend went to England to work for a probationary period three months ago.
3. I was on holiday in Bulgaria two weeks ago.
4. A friend of mine wrote a new operating system two months ago.
5. I was fond of swimming two years ago.
6. Tom forgot to remind me of the forthcoming lecture at Moscow State University yesterday.
7. I ate an apple, drank a glass of lemonade and went to school.
8. I wrote three novels last year.
9. I saw a lion in the zoo yesterday.
10. She was my bride in 1999.
The Past Indefinite обозначает действия, имевшие место в прошлом и время совершения которых истекло: last year - в прошлом году, five days ago - пять дней тому назад, yesterday - вчера, in 1945 - в 1945 году и т.д.
Прошедшее неопределённое время широко используется в повествовании для описания последовательных событий прошлого.
Основным назначением Past Progressive является обозначение действий, протекавших в точно указанное время в прошлом.
Дополнительными характеристиками таких действий являются их незаконченность, динамичность и наглядность. Момент, в который протекает интересующее нас действие, часто бывает обозначен другим коротким действием в the Past Simple.