Past continuous and past simple

Past continuous and past simple

Do you know how to use the past continuous and past simple?

Look at these examples to see how the past continuous and past simple are used.

• When I woke up this morning, it was snowing.

•  was sleeping when you called me.

Grammar explanation

The past continuous and the past simple help us to show how two past actions or situations are connected.

Past simple

The past simple shows us that an action was in the past, not in the present. Regular past simple verbs have -ed at the end (e.g. called, played, arrived). Irregular verbs have a different form, usually with a different vowel sound (e.g. wake → woke, break → broke, feel → felt).

Examples

• My parents called me yesterday.

• I woke up early this morning.

• Sam played basketball when he was at university.

• ...

[...] We make the negative with didn't and the infinitive verb.

• My parents didn't call me yesterday.

• I didn't wake up early this morning

• ...

[...] We make the question form with did and then the subject and infinitive verb.

• Did you wake up early this morning?

• Did Sam play basketball when he was at university?

Past continuous

The past continuous shows us that the action was already in progress at a certain time in the past.

- What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying.

This means that I started studying before 8 p.m. and I continued after 8 p.m.

The past continuous can also show that an activity was in progress for some time, not just for a moment.

We were cleaning the house all morning.

We make the past continuous with was or were and the -ing form of the verb.

She couldn't come to the party. She was working.

Three years ago, we were living in my home town.

I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening.

What were you doing this time last year?

Multiple Choice

I _____ work at 9 a.m. this morning.

• started

• was starting

Multiple Choice

This time last year I _____ at university.

• studied

• was studying

Multiple Choice

Sarah hurt her ankle while she _____.

• ran

• was running

Multiple Choice

I _____ your call because I was working.

• missed

• was missing

Poll

Did you like the subject being presented this way?

• Yes

• No

• Hated!!!!