USE OF PAST SIMPLE

The past simple is used to express:

1. A finished action in the past

We met in 2000
I went to Boston last week
Jhon left two minutes ago

2. Actions that follow each other in a story

Mary walked into the room and stopped. She listened carefully
She heard a noise coming from behind the curtain. She threw the curtain open, and then she saw......

3. A past situation or habit

When I was a child, we lived in a small house by the sea. Every day I walked for miles on the beach with my dog.

NOTE: this use is often expressed with used to
We used to live in a small house..... I used to walk for miles......