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Past Simple Vs Past Continuous - Differences - Theory

The document contrasts the simple past and past progressive tenses in English. The simple past is used to describe actions completed in the past, while the past progressive emphasizes that an action was ongoing at a certain time in the past. Certain verbs like state of being, possession, senses, feelings and brain work are usually only used in the simple past. The simple past uses regular verbs like "talked" and irregular forms, while the past progressive adds "was/were" before the present participle ("-ing" form).

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Oana Dinu
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271 views

Past Simple Vs Past Continuous - Differences - Theory

The document contrasts the simple past and past progressive tenses in English. The simple past is used to describe actions completed in the past, while the past progressive emphasizes that an action was ongoing at a certain time in the past. Certain verbs like state of being, possession, senses, feelings and brain work are usually only used in the simple past. The simple past uses regular verbs like "talked" and irregular forms, while the past progressive adds "was/were" before the present participle ("-ing" form).

Uploaded by

Oana Dinu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple Past vs.

Past Progressive

Form

Simple Past Past Progressive

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
irregular verbs  

I spoke I was speaking


you were speaking
regular verbs: verb + ed he / she / it was speaking
I worked we were speaking
they were speaking

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
 when the final letter is e, only  silent e is dropped (but: does not apply
add d. for -ee)
Example: love - loved Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing
 after a short, stressed vowel, the
final consonant is doubled  after a short, stressed vowel, the final
Example: admit - admitted consonant is doubled
Example: sit - sitting
 final l is always doubled in
British English (not in American  final l is always doubled in British
English) English (not in American English)
Example: travel - travelled Example: travel - travelling

 after a consonant,  final ie becomes y.


final y becomes i. (but: not after a Example: lie - lying
vowel)
Example: worry - he worried
but: play - he played
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
She came home, switched on the his brother was watching TV.
computer and checked her e-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
My mobile rang (while I was sitting in a suddenly rang.)
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.
Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).

 state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit


Example: We were on holiday.

 possession: belong, have, own


Example: Sam had a cat.

 senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch


Example: He felt the cold.

We often use CAN or COULD with these verbs when we refer to what we see, hear, etc. at
the moment of speaking.

 feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish


Example: Jane loved pizza.

 brain work: believe, know, think, understand, forget


Example: I did not understand him.

 introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say


Example: “I am watching TV,“ he said.

Signal words

Simple Past Past Progressive

 first  while
 then  as long as
 If Type II (If I talked, …)

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