1. Past Tense Time Clauses
The Simple Past and Past Continuous Tenses

2. Sentences with Past Time Clauses
PAST TIME CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
(DEPENDENT CLAUSE) (INDEPENDENT CLAUSE)
Before the storm hit, everyone was sleeping.
When the house collapsed, I was eating dinner.
While I was sleeping, the phone rang.
After the play ended, everyone clapped.
The verbs in a past time clause and main clause can be in the simple past or in the past continuous.

3. Position of Past Time Clauses
PAST TIME CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
(DEPENDENT CLAUSE) (INDEPENDENT CLAUSE)
When the house collapsed, I was eating dinner.
After the play ended, everyone clapped.
MAIN CLAUSE PAST TIME CLAUSE
(INDEPENDENT CLAUSE) (DEPENDENT CLAUSE)
I was eating dinner when the house collapsed.
Everyone clapped after the play ended.

4. Past Time Clauses: Examining Meaning and Use
Simultaneous Events
When the verbs in both the time clause and the main clause are in the past continuous, the events are simultaneous (happening at exctly the same time). When or while introduces the time clause.
Past Continuous Past Continuous
When I was sleeping, the children were watching TV.
I was sleeping while the children were watching TV.

5. Past Time Clauses: Examining Meaning and Use
Interrupted Events
When one verb is in the simple past and the other is in the past continuous, it shows that one event interrupted the other. The event in the past continuous started first and was interrupted by the simple past event. When or while begins the time clause, which uses the past continuous.
Past Continuous (First Event) Simple Past (Second Event)
When I was sleeping, the telephone rang.
While I was sleeping, the telephone rang.

6. Past Time Clauses: Examining Meaning and Use
Events in Sequence
When the verb in both the time clause and the main clause are in the simple past, one event happened after the other (in sequence). Before, when, or after introduces the time clause and indicates the order of events.
Simple Past (First Event) Simple Past (Second Event)
I walked past my sister before I recognized her.
When the phone rang, I answered it.
After he gave me the diploma, I shook his hand.