Past simple, continuous and perfect

Use past simple for the main completed events in a story.

Use past continuous for background actions or activities already in progress at a past time.

Use past perfect for an event completed before another past event or reference point.

When the order is already completely clear from words such as before/after, past simple may sometimes be enough, but past perfect can emphasize the earlier event.

Avoid overusing past perfect; once the earlier time relationship is established, a narrative often returns to past simple.