FORM 5 UNIT 2: LANGUAGE AWARENESS

PAST SIMPLE & PAST CONTINUOUS

UNIT 2 : LIFE'S GREAT MYSTERIES

PAST SIMPLE

WHEN TO USE?

something that started and finished at a stated time in the past

• They investigated that crime two years ago.

• They found new evidence last week.

past routines and habits

• The archaeologist often visited Egypt.

• She often read Greek myths.

situations or states which were true in the past, but are no longer true

• Tony believed in ghosts when he was a child.

• Mark believed in aliens when he was young

actions that happened one after the other in the past, for example when telling a story

• Dean opened the door of the haunted house, went inside and walked slowly up the stairs.

• Tina walked down the passage, turned the corner and stopped.

past actions which won’t happen again

• Homer wrote many stories about the ancient Greeks.

• Icarus flew too close to the sun.

PAST CONTINUOUS

When to use?

actions that were in progress at a stated time in the past

• The historian was reading a book at five o’clock last night.

• The historian was writing his article at ten o’clock this morning.

two or more actions that were in progress at the same time in the past

• I was watching a spooky programme while my brother was doing the laundry.

• Sam was looking around the haunted house while Pat was waiting outside.

giving background information in a story

• The sun was shining and John was walking in the forest.

• It was raining hard and the wind was blowing.

an action that was in progress in the past that was interrupted by another.

• We were talking about our theory when we observed something remarkable.

• I was reading about spooky places when I heard a strange noise.

past continuous for the action that was in progress

past simple for the action which interrupted it

• We were talking about our theory when we observed something remarkable.

• I was reading about spooky places when I heard a strange noise.

Remember!

We DO NOT usually use stative verbs in continuous tenses

LET'S CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Tom was wanting to find proof to solve the mystery.

• Identify the main verb.

• Which tense is used?

Tom was wanting to find proof to solve the mystery.

• Main verb = want

• past continuous

Tom was looking for proof to solve the mystery.

• Identify the main verb.

• Which tense is used?

Tom was looking for proof to solve the mystery.

• Main verb = look

• Past continuous

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is incorrect?

• Tom was wanting to find proof to solve the mystery.

• Tom was looking for proof to solve the mystery.

Why?

Because want is a stative verb

Remember!

We DO NOT usually use stative verbs in continuous tenses

Choose the correct words to complete the sentences

Multiple Choice

Peter _________ a scary programme at seven ’clock yesterday.

• wasn’t watching

• didn’t watch

Multiple Choice

Alfred Hitchcock ________ many remarkable films.

• was directing

• directed

Multiple Choice

Every year, Pat ________ me a mysterious box and we ________ it together.

• brought , opened

• was bringing , were opening

Multiple Choice

Lara ________ a book of myths while Tyler ________ the Net.

• read , surfed

• was reading , was surfing

Multiple Choice

_______________ the mystery in 1990?

• Did they solve

• Were they solving

Multiple Choice

Tom ________ about the bizarre event.

• knew

• was knowing

Multiple Choice

The spirit ________ out of the castle, _______ down to the lake and _________ .

• was coming,

  was walking,

  was disappearing

• came ,

  walked ,

  disappeared

PANDORA'S BOX

Complete the sentences.

Use the past simple

or

the past continuous.

Multiple Select

One day, while he _________ (work) , Zeus ________ (tell) Hephaestus to make him a daughter.

• was working

• worked

• was telling

• told

Multiple Select

He _______ (listen) to Zeus, _______ (make) a beautiful woman and _______ (name) her Pandora.

• listened

• was listening

• made

• was making

• named

Multiple Select

Zeus ______ (give) Pandora a box and ______ (order) her never to open it.

• was giving

• gave

• was ordering

• ordered

Multiple Select

However, Pandora was very curious, so one night while her husband ________ (sleep), she ______ (open) the box and all kinds of terrible things came out: hate, crime, disease ... .

• was sleeping

• slept

• was opening

• opened

Multiple Select

When Epimetheus _______ (wake up), Pandora _______ (cry)

• was waking up

• woke up

• was crying

• cried

Multiple Select

She _______ (open) the box to show Epimetheus it was empty and he _______ (see) a small insect inside. ‘My name is Hope,’ it said.

• opened

• was opening

• saw

• was seeing

Multiple Select

Hope _______ (thank) Pandora for opening the box and _______ (fly away) to help the world.

• thanked

• was thanking

• flew away

• was flying away