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Past Simple and Past Continuous

The document discusses the past continuous tense and how to use it compared to the past simple tense. It provides examples of using the past continuous to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It contrasts this with using the past simple to describe completed actions. It also discusses using both tenses together in a sentence, with "when" usually followed by past simple and "while" usually followed by past continuous. The tasks that follow provide exercises to practice using the past continuous correctly.

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Liiseth Alejandra Canchala
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795 views4 pages

Past Simple and Past Continuous

The document discusses the past continuous tense and how to use it compared to the past simple tense. It provides examples of using the past continuous to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It contrasts this with using the past simple to describe completed actions. It also discusses using both tenses together in a sentence, with "when" usually followed by past simple and "while" usually followed by past continuous. The tasks that follow provide exercises to practice using the past continuous correctly.

Uploaded by

Liiseth Alejandra Canchala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PAST CONTINUOUS Use of English

PAST CONTINUOUS PAST SIMPLE or PAST CONTINUOUS

We use Past Continuous to describe an action in ● Use the Past Simple for a completed action.
progress at a specific moment in the past.
Example: I took the photo / I saw the news.

Examples:
● Use the Past Continuous for an action in progress.

Example: They were writing a song / I was sitting at home.


At six o’clock last night I was driving home.

On April 1st I was staying with some friends in


● Sometimes, both tenses are used in a sentence.
the country.
Example: I was studying when you called me.

You called me while I was studying.

NOTE: When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most
often followed by the verb tense simple past, whereas "while" is
usually followed by past continuous. "While" expresses the idea
of "during that time."

TASK 1. Complete the sentences with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets

1. I ______was making._________ (make) my dinner at 8 o’clock last night.


2. Joe and Sam _______werw______using_______ (use) the wrong program in IT yesterday.
3. Who was that guy you _____were _dancing_____________ (dance) with at the party?
4. Paula _____________was__coming_____ (come) home from school when she saw an accident.
5. In 1999 my father ____was_____living___________ (live) in Dublin. That’s where he met my mother.
6. He _____________was__opening_____ (open) the box when he cut his finger.
7. This time last week, we _____were_____visiting__________ (visit) my grandmother.
8. I ____________was_____siting___ (sit) at the back of the classroom so I couldn’t see the screen.
9. Andrew ________was__inseting__________ (insert) a photo into his document when the teacher stopped the class.
10. I ______was_____starting_________ (start) to do my homework when my friend sent me a message.

TASK 2. Choose the correct options (past simple or past continuous).

1. I listened / was listening to the radio when I heard / was hearing this fantastic song.
2. When the teacher said / was saying ‘Stop!’, I still tried / was still trying to finish the last question.
 3. I feel really silly! While I danced / was dancing, I fell / was falling and broke / was breaking my elbow.
4. Tim played / was playing a computer game when his mum called / was calling him for lunch.
5. I looked / was looking for a file on my memory stick when I noticed / was noticing there was a virus.
6. Ron found music / was finding a really interesting website about dance while he surfed / was surfing the internet.
7. My mum had / was having breakfast near the computer when she spilled / was spilling her cup of coffee on the
keyboard.
8. When you saw / were seeing me yesterday, I didn’t go / wasn’t going to school, I went / was going to the doctor’s –
I felt terrible.
9. How many pictures did you take / were you taking while you travelled / were travelling around Ireland?
10. Why did you chat / were you chatting to Philip while I tried / was trying to tell you something really important?
TASK 3.

Used to

We use used to + infinitive to talk about how things were E.g.


different in the past. Sometimes we want to talk about
- She used to be a teacher
habitual behavior in the past and to contrast it with behavior
Used to + infinitive
now, which is different now in some way. - They didn´t use to like
cooking

Complete the dialogue with the verbs in the box and used to or didn’t use to.

watch get love kiss work like pay go help

A Darling, do you love me?

B Yes, of course I do

A Do you? I think you 0. used to love me, but I’m not sure that you do now.

B Why not?

A You 1. ___________________________me more attention.

B I still do.

A No you don’t. You 2. ___________________ me and give me presents. You are just focused
on your trips to Chile and Argentina. You just want to travel in your car!

B. Don’t be ridiculous.

A. You 3. ___________________________ so much football. You 4. ____________ out with me.


We used to go on vacation and visit many cities on our motorcycle.

B. What are you talking about? I haven’t changed.

A. Yes, you have. You never 5. ________________________ angry like you are now.

B. I’m not angry. In my case, you 6. ______________ football, and I promise to plan a trip by
bus throughout America.

A. No, I didn’t really. I just pretended I did.

B. Did you?

A. Yes, I did
B. Things are different now. We didn’t have the children and I 7. ________________ so hard

A. That’s another thing. You 8. __________________ more with the housework. Nowadays
you don’t do anything.

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