The ship continues to sail on.

The ship continued to sail on quietly.

They began the invasion of that country.

They invaded our country.

He was working in the middle of the night.

Yesterday, a lecture in the presence of the emperor was held.

He prepared all night to lecture to the Emperor.

In the old days, small countries used to pay tribute to large countries.

They paid tribute to the king every year.

He tried to improve the soil by deep plowing.