What is the difference between simple and continuous verb tenses?

Answer 1

past simple or present simple are called simple because they have only one verb, a main verb eg

I saw the movie. She walks to work.

Continuous verb tenses have a present participle that is a verb ending in -ing eg walking or listening plus a be verb or an auxiliary verb. Examples

present continuous - I am listening to music

past continuous - The man was walking home.

present perfect continuous - We have beenlistening to music.

Also the simple tenses and continuous tenses are used to express different past present or future time.

Answer 2

Simple tenses refer to actions that are completed or recurring, such as "She eats Pizza" (simple present) or "He played soccer" (simple past). Continuous tenses refer to actions that are ongoing or in progress, like "She is eating pizza" (present continuous) or "He was playing soccer" (past continuous).