| a) for an action which happened at a definite time in the past. The time is stated, already known or implied;
b) for actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past;
c) for past habits or states which are now finished. In such cases we can also use the expression used to.
| a) for an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past. We do not mention when the action started or finished;
b) for an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it. We use the past continuous for the action in progress (longer action) and the past simple for the action which interrupted it (shorter action);
c) for two or more simultaneous past actions;
d) to describe the atmosphere, setting, etc. in the introduction to a story before we describe the main events.
| a) for an action which happened before another past action or before a stated time in the past;
b) for an action which finished in the past and whose result was visible in the past.
| a) to put emphasis on the duration of an action which started and finished in the past before another past action or a stated time in the past, usually with sinceor for;
b) for an action which lasted for some time in the past and whose result was visible in the past.
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