Past Simple and Past continuous - (Topic: entertainment events)

Past Simple and Past Continuous

(Topic: entertainment events)

by Cristina Maria

​Explanation focused

on the use of the Past Continuous tense.

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Short Power Point to give an explanation on the use of

these past verb tenses.

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​Past Simple or Past Continuous?

"​While he was waiting for the concert, it started to rain."

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Past continuous gives us the background information.

Past simple tells us about a shorter action

or interruption.

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​When do we use the Past Continuous?

​ "While she was listening to the opera,

her husband was going to a jazz concert."

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​When two things were happening at the same time, we use the Past Continuous in both sentences.

​When do we use the Past Continuous?

"​He was singing at the opera for three hours."

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​We use the Past Continuous to emphasize the idea that the action lasted for some time.

​When do we use the Past

​"He was playing the bass at 7 p.m."

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We use the past continuous to talk about things which were happening at or around a fixed time.

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Multiple Choice

Now choose the correct options: 

While my friends ... to the concert, I ... for the bus to come. 

• was arriving / was waiting

• were arrive / was wait

• were arriving / was waiting

• arriving / waiting

Multiple Choice

I ... to the concert attentively, because ... a man talking next to me.

• weren't listening / there were

• didn't listening / there was

• didn't listen / there wasn't

• wasn't listening / there was

Multiple Choice

The actors ... on the stage, when suddenly a strong noise ... them. 

• were performing / frightened

• are performing / frghten

• was performing / were frightening

• performed / frightened