Past simple vs Past continuous / RULES

Past simple vs Past continuous 

We use the past continuous:  was /were + Ving довга дія	We use the past simple: (+) - Ved/2 ; (-? ) – Did + V1 коротка дія
•    for an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past. The girls were playing volleyball at five o'clock in the afternoon.  •    for two or more long actions happening at the same time in the past. The children were studying while their mother was cooking   •    for an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it. The action that interrupted it is in the past simple. Mary was cooking when she burnt her hand.	• for an action that took place at a specific time in the past. Simon went to camp last month (When did he go to camp? Last month.) ·        actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past. First she made the pizza, then she put it in the oven.
Time expressions used with the past continuous: while, when, as. all day / night / morning, all day yesterday, at five o'clock in the afternoon.  etc.	Time expressions used with the past simple: ago, yesterday, last month/ week/ year, in 2005, then …