Simple Past & Past continuous

Simple Past & Past continuous

By Mario Medina

​Simple Past

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).

2nd level

Simple Past

​Simple Past

My parents called me yesterday.

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I woke up early this morning.

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Sam played basketball when he was at university.

2nd level

Simple Past

​Simple Past

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

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My parents didn't call me yesterday.

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I didn't wake up early this morning.

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2nd level

Simple Past

​Simple Past

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

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Did you wake up early this morning?

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Did Sam play basketball when he was at university?​

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2nd level

Simple Past

​Past Continuous

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

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

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

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2nd level

Past Continuous

​Past Continuous

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

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We were cleaning the house all morning.​

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2nd level

Past Continuous

​Past Continuous

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

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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?

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2nd level

Past Continuous

​Past Continuous/Simple Past

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.

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While I was studying, I suddenly felt sleepy.

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2nd level

Past Continuous/Simple Past

​Past Continuous/Simple Past

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

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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.

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2nd level

Past Continuous/Simple Past

​Past Continuous/Simple Past

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

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When the guests arrived, Jane was cooking dinner.

When the guests arrived, Jane cooked dinner.

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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.

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2nd level

Past Continuous/Simple Past

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb tense: I _____ my new job yesterday.

• started

• was starting

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb tense: What _____ at around 8 a.m. this morning?

• did you do

• were you doing

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb tense: While I was washing the dishes, I suddenly _____ a brilliant idea.

• had

• was having

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb tense: He didn't hear the phone ring. He _____ to really loud music.

• listened

• was listening

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb tense: They _____ the shop when I got there, so I couldn't go in and buy anything.

• already closed

• were already closing