Usage Examples Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

• Were they smiling when they saw you? -
• Why was Lucy smoking at the party? -
• Who did you see at the train station? -
• Were they studying at this time yesterday? -
• Anna was sleeping when the burglars broke into her house. -
• Someone took a picture of Tom while he was sitting on a bench. -
• While I was walking to the university, I witnessed an accident. -
• Was your grandmother working when she met your grandfather? -
• You weren't dancing at noon yesterday. -
• My wife arrived when I was having a bath. -
• Maddie came back at midnight. -
• Paula was running when the storm started. -
• When I woke up, it was snowing. -
• I was reading when the doorbell rang. -
• Bob was waiting for me for two hours yesterday. -
• I wanted to call my mum but I called you instead. -
• I was watching television when my mother came home. -
• Who was Alessia talking to when you saw her? -
• The town was changing quickly. -
• I went to Tokyo last month. -