Past Simple or Past Continuous

The Past Simple form is made by:

• using the second row of the irregular verbs

• adding -ed to the verb

• Using the third row of the irregular verbs

• adding -ing to the verb

The past continuous form is made by:

• Using the second row of the irregular verbs

• adding -ed to the verb

• Using the third row of the irregular verbs

• adding -ing to the verb

Do we use the past simple or past continuous for longer actions?

• Past Simple

• Past Continuous

I ... (eat) when you ... (call)

• eated, called

• ate, was calling

• was eating, called

• am eating, call

It ... (be) a beautiful day and the sun ...(shine)

• is being, shines

• is, is shining

• was being, shined

• was, was shining

My parents ... (paint) the kitchen all day yesterday.

• painted

• were painting

• are painting

• paint

The dog ...(jump) in the water while we ... (swim).

• was jumping, swam

• jumped, were swimming

• was jumping, swum

• jumped, are swimming

When the baby ... (wake up), they ... (have) lunch.

• is waking up, are having

• woke up, were having

• was waking up, had

• woke up, are having

The past continuous interrupts the past simple action.

• Correct

• Incorrect

We use the past continuous for actions in progress at a certain time in the past.

• Correct

• Incorrect