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it rained vs it was raining

Both "it rained" and "it was raining" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "It rained" is simple past tense, indicating that rain fell at a specific time in the past. "It was raining" is past continuous tense, indicating that rain was falling continuously over a period of time in the past.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 2965 views

it rained

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that rain fell at a specific time in the past.

Use "it rained" to describe a past event when rain fell at a specific time.

Examples:

Yesterday, it rained heavily.
During the picnic, it rained unexpectedly.
It rained all night long.
It rained for hours.
It rained cats and dogs.

Show examples from the web [+]

Plus, it rained practically every day.
Last July in Houston, Texas, it rained for two days, 162 billion gallons.
They were coming on too late when it rained.
Every time it rained, we had to kill the power.
Last night it rained and the wet moss is very green.
The crops weren't good last year, it rained all summer and ruined the harvest.
And the park rangers confirmed that it rained the night before Samantha was killed.
Means the hole was dug the night it rained.
Luke Savard only lived because it rained that night.
In the winter of 2004, it rained in Death Valley.
We couldn't run the jumping course when it rained so...
One patient couldn't take showers, and panicked when it rained.
When it rained or was cold, there was always the shopping centre.
Someone left the lids of their trash cans open when it rained.
When it rained, we moved to the trees.
Remember... the day Toshi died... it rained like this.
Tell her that it rained for two and a half days.
From the city przepłoszył us rain, moreover, it rained all night...
Yesterday they didn't play tennis, because it rained.
No, because it rained too much.

Alternatives:

It poured
It drizzled
It showered
It sprinkled
It stormed

it was raining

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that rain was falling continuously over a period of time in the past.

Use "it was raining" to describe a past event when rain was falling continuously over a period of time.

Examples:

When I left the house, it was raining.
It was raining all morning.
While we were driving, it was raining heavily.
It was raining when we arrived at the party.
During the trip, it was raining non-stop.

Show examples from the web [+]

He came on Friday, on which it was raining hard. Those two sentences are from my grammar book. It says when equals on which, and both of ...
It Was Raining That Night is a Hollywood-Bollywood film simultaneously made in English and Bengali. Written and directed by Indian actor-director Mahesh ...
Jun 30, 2011 ... Regarding the diary or journal specifically, you might consider also to express it as past. It was raining the whole day is pretty clear ...
It Was Raining That Night (2005). 105 min - Drama. 8.1. Your rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X. Ratings: 8.1/10 from 21 users. Reviews: write review · Add a Plot ...

Alternatives:

It was pouring
It was drizzling
It was showering
It was sprinkling
It was storming

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