Past Simple vs Past Continuous

A man (mow) the grass while his wife (pick) strawberries.

A man was mowing the grass while his wife was picking straberries.

After a while, the sun (come) out again.

After a while, the sun came out again.

After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly (appear) and it (start) to rain.

After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly appeared and it started to rain.

He ____________ (drink) some juice and then he _______(eat) a few chips.

He drank some juice and then he ate a few chips.

He nearly _____ (have) a heart attack when he ______ (see) the bear.

He nearly had a heart attack when he saw the bear.

He (see) the accident while he (walk) to work.

He saw the accident while he was walking to work.

I (not understand) what they (talk) about.

I didn't understand what they were talking about.

I (thank) the farmer for his hospitality and (move) on.

I thanked the farmer for his hospitality and moved on.

I (drive) my new car when I (have) the accident.

I was driving my new car when I had the accident.

I (have) a beautiful dream when the alarm (go) off.

I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm went off.

I (have) a shower so I (not hear) the phone.

I was having a shower so I didn't hear the phone.

I (have) dinner when I suddenly (hear) a loud bang.

I was having dinner when I suddenly heard a loud bang.

I (go) to the shed and (take) out my bike.

I went to the shed and took out my bike.

It (be) a beautiful morning. So I (decide) to cycle around a little.

It was a beautiful morning. So I decided to cycle around a little.

Luckily, a farmer (notice) me and (tell) me to come in.

Lucklily, a farmer noticed me and told me to come in.

Mike ____ (not see) his friend because he ____ (face) the other way.

Mike didn't see his friend because he was facing the other way.

She ______ (fill) in a questionnaire when the pen _____ (run)out of ink.

She was filling in a questionnaire when the pen ran out of ink.

She (walk) down the street when she (trip) on the pavement.

She was walking down the street when she tripped on the pavement.

She (go) to school, (take) out her textbook and (begin) to learn.

She went to school, took out her textbook and began to learn.

They (have) so much fun at the party, they (decide) to stay.

The were having so much fun at the party, they decided to stay.

The winning racing driver ____ (shake) the bottle, then _____ (take) the cork out.

The winning racing driver shook the bottle, then took the cork out.

They (not see) me because they (talk) to each other.

They didn't see me because they were talking to each other.

They ____ (watch) TV when the lights ____ (go) off.

They were watching TV when the lights went off.

This time last week I (lie) on the beach.

This time last week I was lying on the beach.

Uncle Ben _____ (get) dressed when he ____ (feel) a sharp pain in his chest.

Uncle Ben was getting dressed when he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

We _____ (go) down the road at 100 kph when the wheel ____ (fall) off.

We were going down the road at 100kph when the wheel fell off.

We (walk) in the mountains when we (hear) a piercing scream.

We were walking in the mountains when we heard a piercing scream.

What (you/ do) when the telephone (ring)?

What were you doing when the telephone rang?

When I (get) up yesterday, the sun (shine) .

When I got up yesterday, the sun was shinning.

When I _____(do) the washing-up, I ______(drop) a plate.

When I was doing the washing-up, I dropped a plate.

When I (be) on my way home, I (see) an accident.

When I was on my way home, I saw an accident.

When Jane (do) a language course in Ireland, she (visit) Blarney Castle.

When Jane was doing a language course in Ireland, she visited Blarney Castle.

When it (start) to rain, our dog (want) to come inside.

When it started to rain, our dog wanted to come inside.

When my father (work) in the garden, an old friend (pass) by to see him.

When my father was working in the garden, an old friend passed by to see him.

When the phone (ring), I (get) up to answer it.

When the phone rang, I got up to answer it.

When the teacher (arrive) all the students (stand) up.

When the teacher arrived all the students stood up.

When the teacher (arrive), they (play) in the back of the classroom.

When the teacher arrived, they were playing in the back of the classroom.

While I (cycle) past some villages, I (see) some people in their gardens.

While I was cycling past some villages, I saw some people inside their gardens.

While I (have) a drink in the cafe, I (see) an accident outside.

While I was having a drink in the cafe, I saw an accident outside.

While Tom _____(play) the piano, his father _____ (do) the washing-up.

While Tom was playing the piano, his father was doing the washing-up.

While it (rain) outside, I (sit) in the farmer's house.

While it was raining outside, I was sitting in the farmer's house.

Why (you /run) when I (see) you the other day?

Why were you running when I saw you the other day?