Simple Past vs Past Continuous

Past simple VS Past continuous

by Lidia MP

​PAST SIMPLE

• ​We use the past simple to talk about...

  Completed actions, habits and facts in the past.

Multiple Choice

I...(be) shocked when I... (hear) a terrible noise.

• was

  heard

• am

  heard

• was

  hearded

​PAST CONTINUOUS

​The past continuous is used to express...

​Interrupted actions, specific time as an interruption and parallel actions.

​Past continuous

• ​INTERRUPTED ACTIONS

• ​I was watching TV when the phone rang.

• ​

• SPECIFIC TIME AS AN INTERRUPTION

• ​Last night at 7pm, I was having dinner.

• ​

• ​PARALLEL ACTIONS

• ​While she was doing her homework her brother was playing football.

Multiple Choice

John...(not swim) at four o'clock. He...(play) football.

• didn't swimming

  was playing

• wasn't swimming

  was playing

• wasn't swimming

  played

Multiple Choice

We...(cycle) when the rain...(start).

• were cycling

  started

• cycled

  was starting

​PRESENT PERFECT

​We use the present perfect to talk about...

​Algo que sucedió en el pasado pero tiene relevancia en el presente, ya sea porque ocurrió hace muy poco tiempo o porque es una acción que aún no ha finalizado. 

Multiple Choice

Jack...(live) in Boston for the past 15 years.

• had lived

• lived

• has lived

Multiple Choice

I...(finish) my homework, but I still don't understand exercise 7.

• had finished

• have/'ve finished

• finish

​PAST PERFECT

​We use the past perfect to talk about...

​​Para indicar el momento pasado en que algo ocurrió con anterioridad a otro hecho también ocurrido en tiempo pasado. 

Multiple Choice

By the time I gave you back the book, I...(read) it carefully

• read

• have read

• had read

Multiple Choice

Tina felt nervous during her flicght because she...(not fly) before.

• hadn't flown

• had flown

• flew