past simple vs. past continuous

past simple vs. past continuous

definition of the tenses, differences between them and their usage

PAST SIMPLE

it's a tense used to talk about things that already happened or existed before now. This tense emphasises that the action is done.

EXAMPLES

• My mom bought a new car.

• I won the silver medal.

...

You can also use past simple to talk about a past state of being, such as the way someone felt about something once in the past. This is often expressed with the simple past tense of the verb to be and an adjective, noun or prepositional phrase

EXAMPLES

• My father was proud of the fish he caught.

• The family meeting was the higlight of last week.

HOW TO FORMULATE PAST SIMPLE?

subject+verb (past form) +the rest of the sentence

My teacher asked me a question.

Claire was a little overwhelmed.

Multiple Choice

Kiedy używamy czasu past simple?

• Gdy opisujemy zdarzenia z przeszłości które długo trwały.

• Gdy opisujemy zdarzenia z przeszłości które nadal trwają.

• Gdy opisujemy zdarzenia z przeszłości krótkotrwałe, ale nadal trwające.

• Gdy opisujemy zdarzenia z przeszłości skończone.

PAST CONTINUOUS

this tense refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past.

EXAMPLES

• The sun was shining the whole day.

• She was talking continuously throughout the whole class.

• I was feeling so happy the past year.

...

It can also be used to describe something that was happening over a long time in the past, such as situation, state of feeling, when another action interrupted it.

EXAMPLES

• I was making dinner until I heard my family come back.

• The audience was silent until the artist appeared on stage.

HOW TO FORMULATE PAST CONTINUOUS?

subject+was/were+verb(+ing)+ the rest of the sentence

I was singing for the whole night.

My girlfriend was sleeping until I woke her up.

Multiple Choice

Kiedy używamy czasu past continuous?

• Gdy opisujemy coś, co działo się w przeszłości w określonym zakresie czasu.

• Gdy opisujemy rzeczy, które się skończyły i trwały krótko.

let's combine the tenses

here are couple exercises...

Multiple Select

We visited our family yesterday to catch up with each other lives.

• simple

• continuous

Multiple Select

I was feeling so happy when I finally saw my favourite singer.

• simple

• continuous

Multiple Select

You were doing this for the past few years, you got it!

• simple

• continuous

Multiple Select

The last sentence you translated... Was it in past simple or past continuous?

• simple

• continuous