Chapter 2-4 Simple Past and Past Continuous

Chapter 2-4 Simple Past and Past Continuous Tense

by Phanthavilai Nouanhoune

​a. Rita was standing under a tree

when it began to rain.

b. Rita stood under a tree

when it began to rain.

b. Rita stood under a tree when it began to rain.

​​a. Rita was standing under a tree when it began to rain.

​WHEN used as Past Simple

​

​If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses,

the action in the when-clause happens first.

​

1. ​When+S+V2(First), S+V2+Object(Second).

2. S+V2(Second) when S+V2+Object(First).

​

b. Rita stood under a tree when it began to rain.

​​a. Rita was standing under a tree when it began to rain.

​WHEN used as Past Simple

​

​If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses,

the action in the when-clause happens first.

​

​1.When+S+V2, S+V2+Object.

​ (First) (Second)

​Ex: When I got up this morning, I heard strange noise.

​ When I sneezed yesterday, my nose bled.

​ When you left me alone last year, I met a better man.

​ When I dropped a cup of coffee, it spilled on my lap.

​1. S+was/were+ Ving when S+V2.

​ (First) (Second)

​2. While S+was/were+ Ving, S+V2.

​ (First) (Second)

​3. As S+was/were+ Ving, S+V2.

​ (First) (Second)

​For example,

1. ​I was listening to music when the ceiling fell down onto my head.

2. ​I was walking down the street when it began to rain.

3. ​While I was walking down the street, it began to rain.

4. ​Rita was standing under a tree when it began to rain.

​

​Sometimes the past progressive is used in both parts of a sentence when two actions are in progress simultaneously.

​Ex:

​1. While I was studying in one room of our apartment, my roommate was having a party in the other room.

​

Multiple Choice

Choose the question or statement you would expect the speaker to say. Discuss your answers. Work in pairs, in small groups, or as a class.

1. When I went to bed late last night, I noticed that the light was on in your bedroom,

• a. Were you reading?

• b. Did you read?

Multiple Choice

Choose the question or statement you would expect the speaker to say. Discuss your answers. Work in pairs, in small groups, or as a class.

2. Jane’s cousin was at the party last night.

• a. Were you meeting him?

• b. Did you meet him?

Multiple Choice

Choose the question or statement you would expect the speaker to say. Discuss your answers. Work in pairs, in small groups, or as a class.

3. A small airplane flew over our house several times last night.

• a. We were sitting out on the patio, and it made us nervous.

• b. We sat out on the patio, and it made us nervous.

Multiple Choice

Choose the question or statement you would expect the speaker to say. Discuss your answers. Work in pairs, in small groups, or as a class.

4. I’m not sure if I met Thipphachanh at the party last night. Describe her for me.

• a. What was she wearing?

• b. What did she wear?

​Exercise 27. Looking at grammar. (Charts 2-7 and 2-8) Complete the sentences. Use the simple past or the past progressive of the verbs in parentheses.

​

1. I am sitting in class right now. I (sit) was sitting in class at this exact same time yesterday.

Multiple Choice

2. I (call) ___________________ Roger at nine last night, but he (be, not) ____________________ at home.

He (study) _____________________________ at the library.

• called . . . wasn’t . . . was studying

• was calling . . . wasn’t . . . studied

Multiple Choice

3. I (hear, not) _____________________________ the thunder during the storm last night because I (sleep) _____________________________ .

• wasn't hearing . . . was sleeping

• didn’t hear . . . was sleeping

Multiple Choice

4. It was beautiful yesterday when we went for a walk in the park. The sun (shine) _____________________________ . A cool breeze (blow) _______________________ . The birds (sing)____________

• shined . . . blew . . . were singing

• was shining . . . was blowing . . . were singing

Multiple Choice

5. My brother and sister (argue) _____________________________ about something when I (walk) ________________________ into the room.

• were arguing . . . walk

• were arguing . . . walked

• were arguing . . . am walking

Multiple Choice

6. I got a package in the mail. When I (open) _____________________________ it, I (fin d) ________________________ a surprise.

• was opening . . . found

• opened . . . found

• opened . . . found

Multiple Choice

7. While Mrs. Emerson (read) _____________________________ the little boy a story, he (fall) ________________________ asleep, so she (close) _________________________ the book and quietly (sneak) ________________________ out of the room

• was reading . . . fell .. . closed . . . sneaked/snuck

• read . . . fell .. . closed . . . sneaked/snuck

Multiple Choice

8. A: (you, hear) _____________________ what the teacher just said?

B: No, I {listen, not) ____________________________ . I (think) ________________________ about something else.

• A: Are you hearing

  B: wasn’t listening . . . thought

• A: Did you hear

  B: wasn’t listening . . . was thinking

Multiple Choice

9. I really enjoyed my last vacation. While it (snow) _____________________________ in Iowa, the sun (shine) ______________________________in Florida. While you (shovel) _____________________________ snow in Iowa all last week, I (lie) ________________________ on a beach in Florida.

• was snowing . . . shined . . . were shoveling

  . . . lay

• was snowing . . . was shining . . . were shoveling . . . was lying

​" always" with Present Progressive= annoyance

• ​S+am/is/are+ always+present participle.

• ​S+am/is/are+ forever+present participle.

• ​S+am/is/are+ constantly+present participle.

Using Expressions of Place with Progressive Verbs

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What is Kay doing?

She's studying in her room.

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Where’s Kay?

She's in her room studying.

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