Past Simle vs Past Continuous

Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Form and Use

PAST SIMPLE

• Shows us that an action was in the past, not in the present

• Regular past simple verbs have -ed, d, or -ied at the end (e.g. called, played, arrived, loved, carry-carried)

• 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?

Past continuous and past simple

• When we use these two tenses together, it shows us that the past simple action happened in the middle of the past continuous action, while it was in progress.

• While I was studying, I suddenly felt sleepy.

We often use these tenses to show an action interrupting another action.

• I broke my leg when I was skiing.

• As I was going to work, I saw an old friend.

• We were watching television when the power went off.

Can you see a difference in the meaning of these two sentences?

• When the guests arrived, Jane was cooking dinner.

• When the guests arrived, Jane cooked dinner

Did you get it?

• In the first one, Jane started cooking dinner before the guests arrived. We know that because it uses the past continuous.

• In the second sentence, the guests arrived first and then Jane started cooking.

Multiple Choice

We  (play) tennis when John  (hurt) his ankle.

• were playing / was hurting
• were playing / hurt

Multiple Choice

Yesterday I  (go) to the library, next I  (have) a swim, later I  (meet) Julie for coffee.

• went / had / met
• was going / was having / was meeting

Multiple Choice

When you  (arrive) at the party, who  (be) there?

• arrived / was being
• arrived / was

Multiple Choice

The kids ...............................................when I entered their bedroom. 

• wasn't sleeping
• didn't slept
• weren't sleeping

Multiple Choice

They ....................................very fast when the car hit the tree. 

• was driving
• were driving
• drove

Multiple Choice

I .............................home when I met my old friend from primary school. 

• walked
• was walking 
• was coming

Multiple Choice

When Jane (do) _____________a language course in Ireland, she (visit) _____________Blarney Castle. 

• Was doing | Visited
• Did | Was visiting

Multiple Choice

When my father (work) _____________in the garden, an old friend (pass) _____________by to see him. 

• Was Working | Passed
• Worked | Was Passing

Multiple Choice

I (have) _____________dinner when I suddenly (hear) _____________a loud bang. 

• Had | Was hearing
• Was having | Heard

Multiple Choice

When I (do)_____________the washing-up, I (break) _____________ a plate.

• Did | Was breaking.

• Was doing | Broke

Multiple Choice

When I (do)_____________the washing-up, I (break) _____________ a plate.

• Did | Was breaking.

• Was doing | Broke