Grammar study page: past simple and past continuous

I saw him yesterday.

I didn't (did not) see him yesterday.

Did you see him?

I was reading a book.       

I wasn't (was not) reading.                     

Was I reading?

You were reading a book.     

You weren't (were not) reading.  

Were you reading?

I worked in London.

In positive sentences, a helping verb such as 'was' or 'did' is not used.

Did he work in London?

The helping verb 'did' is used in past simple questions.

Did he work in London?

The helping verb 'did' is used in past simple questions.

Did he write a letter?

The main verb is used in the infinitive form in questions and negatives.

He didn't write a letter.

The main verb is used in the infinitive form in questions and negatives.

I was waiting for him almost two hours.

To form the past continuous we use was/were + ing.

What was he doing when you saw him?

We played tennis every morning.

We use the past simple for repeated actions in the past.

They were watching TV when I came.

We use the past continuous when we want to say what was happening (what was in progress) at a particular time in the past.