Past simple and past progressive

Past simple and past progressive

Meaning

Read the sentences and answer the questions

Multiple Choice

Simple past

1. Marie moved to Paris in 1891.

2. The Curies won the Nobel Prize in 1903.

Are those actions completed at a specific time in the past?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Past progressive

1. The Curies were living in Paris in 1895.

2. She was studying at the Sorbonne.

Are those actions in progress at a specific time in the past?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Past simple/Past progressive

They were driving when the accident occurred.

Which action interrupted the other action?

• The accident occurred

• They were driving

Multiple Choice

Past progressive

While Clark was leaving the newsroom, Lois was calling the police.

Are these actions in progress at the same time in the past?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

When he came, she was reading the newspaper.

Choose the correct meaning?

• First she started reading the news paper, Then he came home.

• First he came home. Then she read the newspaper.

Multiple Choice

When he came, she read the newspaper.

Choose the correct meaning?

• First she started reading the news paper, Then he came home.

• First he came home. Then she read the newspaper.

Tip

The words 'while' and 'when' are usually used in the past simple and past progressive.

Example:

While he was skating, he fell.

or

He fell when he was skating.

Form

Past simple or past progressive?