Differentiating Past Simple and Past Continuous Tenses

This video tutorial explains the differences between past simple and past continuous tenses. It provides examples and scenarios to illustrate when to use each tense, how to combine them, and common mistakes to avoid. The lesson concludes with a summary of key points.

What tense is used for actions completed in the past?

• Future perfect

• Past simple

• Past continuous

• Present perfect

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1B

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Which sentence is in the past simple tense?

• They have eaten dinner.

• She is reading a book.

• They were playing tennis.

• He played football.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Which tense describes an ongoing action in the past?

• Past simple

• Present continuous

• Past continuous

• Past perfect

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Which action indicates the use of past continuous tense?

• A future plan

• A habitual action

• An action happening at a specific time in the past

• A completed action

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

What is the correct form to use with 'he/she/it' in past continuous tense?

• Are

• Is

• Were

• Was

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

How do we form the past continuous tense?

• Was/Were + verb 'ing'

• Verb + 'ed'

• Base form of the verb

• Have + past participle

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

What tense do we use for actions that interrupt ongoing actions in the past?

• Past continuous

• Present perfect

• Past perfect

• Past simple

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

What is the correct past continuous form for 'I'?

• I was

• I be

• I were

• I am

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Why do we use 'wanted' instead of 'was wanting'?

• Continuous form is incorrect

• Past simple is used for ongoing actions

• Past simple is used for single actions in the past

• Preference for continuous tense

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Which verbs are typically not used in the continuous form?

• Sing and dance

• Run and play

• Want and know

• Eat and drink

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.K.1B