Past Progressive And Past Simple

Simple Past Past Progressive
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs
I spoke
regular verbs: verb + ed
I worked past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
 
I was speaking
you werespeaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :
when the final letter is e, only add d.
Example: love - loved
after ashort, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example: admit - admitted
final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example: travel - travelled
after aconsonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry - he worried
but: play - he played Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come -coming
but: agree - agreeing
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example: sit - sitting
final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example:travel - travelling
final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying
PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST PROGRESSIVE
FORM
USE
After another or at the same time?
Do you want to express that the actions in thepast happened one after another or at the same time?

Simple Past Past Progressive
after another
She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails. at the same time
Simon wasplaying on the computer while his brother was watching TV.
New action or already in progress?
If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need bothtenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.

Simple Past Past Progressive
new action
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.) actionalready in progress
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)
Only mentioning or emphasising progress?
Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also...