Past simple vs past continuous

past simple

versus

past continuous

How to form the past simple?

• regular verbs: add -ed (walk - walked)

• irregular verbs: page 127 - 2nd row (go - went - gone)

You use the past simple to talk about:

• completed actions or events in the past. Eg: His father grew up in Amsterdam.

• something that happened at a particular time in the past. Eg: I went to a football match last night.

• things that happened regularly in the past. Eg: You cycled to school every day befor the lock down.

• when you want to sum things up. Eg: He did the shopping, visited his grandmother, and walked the dog.

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence.

I ......... you several times yesterday.

• was calling

• call

• called

Past simple - negative and questions

• didn't + infinitive (She didn't see the car coming.)

• Did (subject) infinitive (Did she see the car coming?)

• Short answer: yes, she did. / No, she didn't.

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence.

Last winter we ...... (not have) any snow.

• didn't had

• didn't have

• not had

• haven't

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence.

Cool shoes! How much .... (you pay) for them?

• payed you

• did you paid

• paid you

• did you pay

Poll

How is it going so far?

• I think I understand it

• I almost understand it

• I understand it but I need to learn my irregular verbs

• I don't understand it

The past continuous

How to form the past continuous?

• was/were verb+ing

• He was reading a book.

• You were talking on the phone.

negatives and questions

• Negatives: wasn't / weren't verb+ing

• The dogs weren't fighting.

• Questions: Was / Were (subject) verb+ing

• Were the dogs fighting?

You use the past continuous:

• to talk about actions and situations in progress at a certain moment in the past. Eg: It was raining all night.

• to describe the background to a story. Eg: I was watching tv and eating crisps.

• to talk about actions in progress that are interrupted by a short action in the past simple. Eg: I was waiting for a bus when you texted me.

• not with state verbs (verbs which describe what we like, think and feel) Believe, hate, know, like, love, mean, need, own, prefer, understand, want. Eg: I didn't like that film.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form.

The sun .... and some teenagers ..... in the park.

• was shining, were sitting

• was shining, sat

• shone, were sitting

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form.

One girl ... quietly to her friends and two boys .... selfies.

• sang, took

• was singing, took

• sang, were taking

• was singing, were taking

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form.

We ... a film on my computer when it suddenly .... working.

• watched, stopped

• were watching, stopped

• were watching, didn't

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form.

I .... (not notice) what time my sister .... (come) home because I ... (play) a video game in my room.

• didn't notice, was coming, was playing

• wasn't noticing, came, played

• didn't notice, came, was playing

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form.

My cousin ... (go) to Africa last year and ... (climb) the Mount Kilimanjaro.

• went, climbed

• was going, was climbing

• went, was climbing

• was going, climbed

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form.

Dan ....(break) his arm while he .... (ice skate).

• was breaking, was ice skating

• broke, was ice skating

• breaked, was ice skating

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form.

My friends .... (swim) in the sea when it ... (start) to rain.

• were swimming, started

• swam, started

• were swimming, was starting

• swam, was starting

Poll

How did it go?

• I think I can do this now

• Almost there

• It's so confusing!

• Easy peasy lemon squeezy