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Past Continuous Vs Simple Past

The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. The past simple tense describes actions that were completed or one time occurrences in the past. Some key differences are: - The past continuous focuses on the ongoing nature of a past action, while the past simple indicates a one time or repeated action. - The past continuous is used with time expressions like "while" and "when" to describe two simultaneous past actions, one ongoing and one instant. Both tenses use different verb conjugations and question/negative structures. Common uses of each tense are provided to help identify the appropriate one.

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Ernesto Argüello
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52 views

Past Continuous Vs Simple Past

The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. The past simple tense describes actions that were completed or one time occurrences in the past. Some key differences are: - The past continuous focuses on the ongoing nature of a past action, while the past simple indicates a one time or repeated action. - The past continuous is used with time expressions like "while" and "when" to describe two simultaneous past actions, one ongoing and one instant. Both tenses use different verb conjugations and question/negative structures. Common uses of each tense are provided to help identify the appropriate one.

Uploaded by

Ernesto Argüello
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Past continuous

vs.
Past simple
Past simple
It is used:
For an action that started and ended in the past:
I saw a ghost last Friday.

For repeated actions in the past:


• When I was young, I watched lots of TV every day.
• I always gave flowers to my mother.

Regular and irregular past simple verbs:


• I talked to my uncle yesterday.
• I felt sick yesterday so, I went to the doctor.
Past continuous
It is used:

When talking about two actions in the past; one


continues for a period, and the other starts and ends in
the past:
• While I was talking on the phone, someone stole my
car.
• I was making my breakfast when my sister knocked at
the door.

(These sentences usually use When and While)


When = short action While = long action
To talk about two actions in the past, both happening
over a period:
I was working in my computer and my children were
watching television

To talk about temporary activities taking place over a


period of time:
• I was living in Boston when it happened.
• She was traveling to New York while her parents were
touring Italy.
Past simple
Affirmative statements:
Subject + Verb (regular/ irregular) + Complement.
• I played soccer last week.
• I saw the movie yesterday.

Negative statements:
Subject + Did + Not + Verb (base form) + Complement.
I didn’t play soccer last week.

Questions:
Did + Subject + Verb (base form) + Complement + ?
Did I play soccer last week?
Past continuous
Affirmative statements:
Subject + Was/Were + Verb –ing + Complement.
• I was playing soccer with my friends.
• We were studying for the exam.

Negative statements:
Subject + Was/Were + Not + Verb –ing + Complement.
I was not playing soccer with my friends.

Questions:
Was/Were + Subject + Verb –ing + Complement + ?
Were you playing soccer?
Choose which verb tense (simple past or past continuous) fits
better:

1. I __________ I didn’t hear you come.


A) was sleeping B) slept

2. I ___________ to see her twice, but she wasn’t at home.


A) was coming B) came

3. what ___________?
I was watching TV.
A) did you do B) were you doing

4. Hey did you talk to her?


yes, I ___________ to her.
A) was talking B) talked

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