The best replacement for past continuous is past simple.

The best alternatives to past continuous are rated as following:

★★★★★	past simple
★★★★	simple past
★★★	past simple exercises
★★★	past perfect continuous
★★★	past perfect
★	present perfect
★	past tense
★	past progressive
★	simple past exercises
★	present perfect continuous
★	present continuous
★	simple
	past
	past simple exercise
	simple test
	simple past esl
	simple past tense

Your alternative for past continuous is not listed? Suggest!

Speaking about past continuous, one probably shouldn't forget about while and when.

Other search terms related to past continuous and their ratings are:

★★★★★	while and when
★★★★★	past simple
★★	when and while
★	while
★	past simple tense
	when while

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Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of past continuous in all years. Click on graph for more.

past continuous

past simple

simple past