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Past Simple Vs Past Continous

learn the differences between the simple past and the past continous tenses

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Ofir Andrea
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305 views

Past Simple Vs Past Continous

learn the differences between the simple past and the past continous tenses

Uploaded by

Ofir Andrea
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Use

After another or at the same time?


Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time?

Simple Past

Past Progressive
at the same time

after another

Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watchin

She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-

TV.

mails.

New action or already in progress?


If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses: Simple Past the new action
and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.

Simple Past

Past Progressive
action already in progress

new action

While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)

My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.)

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?


Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)? Or do you want to put emphasis on the
progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?

Simple Past

Past Progressive

just mentioning

emphasising progress

Colin played football yesterday.

Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.

Simple Past or Past Continuous - A Dialog


Fill in the blanks with the simple past or past continuous form of the verbs. Then click on the answer button to
see the correct answers.
A: Hi, Mary. I ___ (see/neg.)
you at school last Monday.
Answ er

B: Hello, Bob. I ___ (come/neg.)

on Monday. I wasn't ___ (feel)


Answ er

(decide)

well, so I ___
Answ er

to go to the doctor.
Answ er

A: Oh! ___ (be)

it serious?
Answ er

B: No, the doctor ___ (examine)

me and ___ (tell)


Answ er

flu. He ___ (prescribe)

me I ___ (have)
Answ er

some medicine and ___ (tell)


Answ er

the
Answ er

me to go home and rest.


Answ er

A: ___ you ___ (stay)

home all day last Monday?


Answ er

B: No, only in the morning. I ___ (have)

to work in the afternoon, and guess what?


Answ er

A: What?
B: When a friend ___ (drive)

me home, he ___ (crash)


Answ er

the red light.


Answ er

A: ___ anyone ___ (get)

hurt?
Answ er

his car. He ___ (see/neg.)


Answ er

B: Thank God, nobody ___ (do)

.
Answ er

A: I'm happy to hear that. Well, Mary, I have to rush now. While I ___ (listen)

to your story,
Answ er

I ___ (remember)

that my wife ___ (ask)


Answ er

me to go to the mechanic to get our car.


Answ er

See you later. Take care.


B: You too. Bye.
Copyright (C) 2000 Vera Mello ([email protected])

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
1.

While Tom was reading

2.

Marvin came

emails.
3.
The thief sneaked

, Amely was watching


home, switched

a documentary on TV.
on the computer and checked

into the house, stole

the jewels and left

trace.
4.
Nobody was listening

while the teacher was explaining

5.

While we were doing

a sight-seeing tour, our friends were lying

6.

He woke

up and looked

his

at his watch.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

without a

the tenses.
on the beach.

7.

The receptionist welcomed

the guests and asked

8.

The car broke

9.

The boys were swimming

10.

My father came

11.

As long as one group was preparing

down and we had

to walk home.

while the girls were sunbathing


in, looked

Martha turned

around and told

me to tidy up my room.

dinner, the others were collecting

campfire.
12.
While the parents were having
13.

them to fill in the form.

wood for their

breakfast, their children were running


off the lights and went

about.

to bed.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
14.

We were waiting

for Jane, when suddenly Louis came

15.

I was cycling

16.

He passed

17.

I fell

18.

When Mike and Jane were painting

19.

Tom broke

20.

The phone rang

around the corner.

through the park, when I heard

a strange noise.

her a message when the teacher was not looking


asleep while I was watching

TV last night.
the walls, their dog knocked

his leg when he was playing


when I was sitting

over the paint pot.

frisbee.
on the toilet.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
21.

I was jogging

22.

Robert fell

23.

Archimedes discovered

24.

When we were travelling

in the park, when two squirrels crossed


off the ladder when he was picking

my way.
cherries.

the theory of buoyancy while he was taking


around Ireland, we met

a bath.

some very nice people.

25.

While she was speaking

26.

When I left

27.

Caroline burnt

on the phone, the milk boiled

over.

the house this morning, the sun was shining

her hand when she was ironing

her clothes.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive).
28.

When I was doing

the washing-up, I broke

a plate.

w as doing

29.

While Tom was playing

30.

He drank

31.

I was having

32.

When my father was working

33.

She went

34.

When it started

35.

When Jane was doing

36.

When I was

37.

I did not understand

broke

the piano, his mother was doing


some juice and then he ate

the washing-up.

a few chips.

dinner when I suddenly heard

a loud bang.

in the garden, an old friend passed

to school, took

out her textbook and began

to rain, our dog wanted

what they were talking

Blarney Castle.

an accident.
about.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
38.

When I got

39.

It was

40.

So I decided

up yesterday, the sun was shining


a beautiful morning.
to cycle around a little.

to learn.

to come inside.

a language course in Ireland, she visited


on my way home, I saw

by to see him.

41.

I went

to the shed and took

out my bike.

42.

While I was cycling

43.

One man was mowing

44.

After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly appeared

past some villages, I saw

some people in their gardens.

the grass while his wife was picking

rain.
45.
Luckily, a farmer noticed
46.

While it was raining

47.

After a while, the sun came

48.

I thanked

me and told
outside, I was sitting

strawberries.
and it started

me to come in.
in the farmer's house.

out again.
the farmer for his hospitality and moved

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
Two days ago, a murder happened

in Market Street at about seven pm.

Yesterday, Sherlock Holmes arrived


He asked

at the crime scene to investigate.

one of the tenants in the house.

Sherlock: What were you doing

yesterday at seven?

Tenants: I was watching


Sherlock: Were
Tenants: Yes, I was
Sherlock: Did you hear

a football match on TV.


you alone?
.
anything suspicious?

on.

to

Tenants: Yes, about seven o'clock, two people were arguing


so interesting. So I just turned
anymore.

in the hallway. But the football match was


up the telly and then did not hear

anything

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