The key answer of exercise 28

PAST SIMPLE

USE:

• States, events, and actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past - Example: I visited Paris last summer.
• A past action interrupting another action or a situation - Example: While we were having supper, the phone rang.
• Action in the past that finished - Example: We had supper and then we cleared the table.

SIGNAL WORDS: yesterday, last night, last week, three months ago, on Monday / Tuesday ..., in the past, before, ago, etc.

VS

PAST CONTINUOUS

USE:

• Actions in progress at a particular time in the past - Example: At 8 PM last night, I was watching a movie.
• An action in progress in the past interrupted by another action - Example: I was studying, and my brother was playing chess when the phone suddenly rang.
• To set the scene at the beginning of a story and to give background information - Example: The rain poured outside as I sat in the cozy café, savoring the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soothing notes of a distant piano.

SIGNAL WORDS: at that time, while, when, as, as long as, during, etc.

USED TO

USE:

• Habits and situations that only happened in the past - Example: I used to play the piano when I was a child.
• Actions that happened regularly in the past - Example: She used to go jogging every morning.
• Past habits and situations in contrast with the present - Example: I used to live in the countryside; now, I live in the city.

FORM:

• Affirmative: subject + used to + base form
• Negative: subject + didn't (did not) + use to + base form
• Interrogative: did + subject + use to + base form?
• Short answers: Yes, + subject + did. / No, + subject + didn't.