[MrPedantic]

Hello Bayan

Usually, the simple past tense presents an action as a whole, while the past progressive presents an action in progress.

Thus:

1. I walked into the room. MrQ was drinking a glass of brandy.

Here, the speaker wants to express the fact that the action (drinking a glass of brandy) was in progress when he entered the room. When we reach the end of the sentence, the action is still not complete: MrQ's glass is still in his hand, and he is still drinking.

2. I walked into the room. MrQ drank a glass of brandy.

Here, the speaker wants to express the fact that the action took place after he walked into the room. When we reach the end of the sentence, the action is complete: MrQ's glass is empty.

Does that make it any clearer? Let me know if not!

Bye for now,

MrP