What is the different between simple past tense and past progressive?

Answer 1

The simple past tense is used to talk about a finished action in the past.

The past progressive tense is used to express a state or action in progress in the past. The action continued for a temporary period, but not up to the present. Often it isn't complete at the time that is being described.

Often we use them together when telling a story about the past. The past progressive gives the back ground and past simple tells the events eg.

I was driving to Auckland when my car broke down.

was driving (past progressive) shows an action that continued over a period of time.

broke down (past simple) shows an event that happened during that period.

Answer 2

Simple past tense is used to indicate an action that happened at a specific time in the past, while past progressive is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Simple past tense is generally used for completed actions, while past progressive is used to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action in the past.