The simple past indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past.

If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses, the action in the when clause happens   first.                         In (d) first the rain Began.   2^nd:  she stood under the tree.

                   1^st.                                                                                                           2^nd.

a)      I walked to school yesterday.

b)      John lived in Paris for ten years, but now, he lives in Rome.

c)      I bought a new car three days ago.

d)     Rita stood under a tree when it began to rain.

e)      When Mrs. Chu heard a strange noise, she got up to investigate.

f)       When I dropped my cup, the coffee spilled on my lap.