Simple Past vs. Past Continuous Tense

I (sit) in a cafe when you (call)

• I was sitting in a cafe when you called.

• I sat in a cafe when you were calling.

• I was sitting in the cafe when you were calling.

• I sat in the cafe when you called.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

When you (arrive) at the party, who (be) there?

• When you were arriving at the party, who was there?

• When you arrived at the party, who was being there?

• When you were arriving at the party, who was being there?

• When you arrived at the party, who was there?

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Susie (watch) a film when she (hear) the noise.

• Susie was watching a film when she heard the noise.

• Susie watched a film when she was hearing the noise.

• Susie was watching a film when she was hearing the noise.

• Susie watched a film when she heard the noise.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Yesterday I (go) to the library, next I (have) a swim, later I (meet) Julie for coffee.

• Yesterday I was going to the library, next I had a swim, later I met Julie for coffee.

• Yesterday I went to the library, next I had a swim, later I was meeting Julie for coffee.

• Yesterday I went to the library, next I had a swim, later I met Julie for coffee.

• Yesterday I was going to the library, next I was having a swim, later I was meeting Julie for coffee.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

We (play) tennis when John (hurt) his ankle.

• We were playing tennis when John hurt his ankle.

• We played tennis when John were hurting his ankle.

• We were playing tennis when John were hurting his ankle.

• We played tennis when John hurt his ankle.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

What (they/do) at 10pm last night - it was really noisy?

• What were they doing at 10 pm last night - it was really noisy?

• What did they do at 10 pm last night - it was really noisy?

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

He (take) a shower when the telephone (ring).

• He was taking a shower when the telephone rang.

• He took a shower when the telephone was ringing.

• He was taking a shower when the telephone was ringing.

• He took a shower when the telephone rang.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

He (be) in the shower when the telephone (ring).

• He was being in a shower when the telephone rang.

• He was in a shower when the telephone was ringing.

• He was being taking a shower when the telephone was ringing.

• He was in a shower when the telephone rang.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

When I (walk) into the room, everyone (work).

• When I was walking into the room, everyone works.

• When I was walking into the room, everyone was working.

• When I walked into the room, everyone was working.

• When I walked into the room, everyone works.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

It (be) a day last September. The sun (shine) and the birds (sing). I (walk) along the street when I (meet) an old friend.

• It was being a day last September. The sun shone and the birds sang . I was walking along the street when I met an old friend.

• It was a day last September. The sun was shining and the birds were singing . I was walking along the street when I met an old friend.

• It was a day last September. The sun was shining and the birds were singing . I was walking along the street when I was meeting an old friend.

• It was being a day last September. The sun shone and the birds sang . I walked along the street when I met an old friend.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D