Pas Simple Past Continuous

+

+

-

+ +

?

Did

Verb –ed (regular verbs)

+

+ was / were + Verb –ing

didn’t + Verb

-

+ wasn’t / weren’t + Verb –ing

+ Verb

?

2nd column (irregular verbs)

The Past Simple is used: 

for an action which started and finished at a specific time in the past. The time is mentioned or can be easily understood.



for repeated or habitual actions in the past.



for actions which happened one after the other in the past.

George got up very early yesterday. He had breakfast, got dressed and left for work.





We lived in that house five years ago.

two days / weeks / months / years ago

for an action which was happening at a specific time in the past.

for an action which was happening in the past when another one interrupted it. We use the Past Continuous for the longer action and the Past Simple for the shorter action. In this case we use while or when.

While she was studying, she heard a strange noise. or She was studying when she heard a strange noise.

for states that relate to the past.

Time expressions used with Past Simple:

+ Verb –ing

John was listening to music at 9:00p.m. yesterday.

He travelled a lot when he was younger.



+

The Past Continuous is used:

I played football yesterday.



Was / Were

for two or more action that were happening at the same time in the past. In this case we usually use while:

While I was sleeping, my mother was doing the housework.



at the beginning of a story to describe the scene, before we start the narrative.

It was a beautiful morning, the sun was shining and the birds were singing.

yesterday, the day before yesterday yesterday morning / afternoon / evening last night / Monday / week / month / year… in 2006, in January, on Sunday on 25th May, on that day at six o’clock

Time expressions used with Past Continuous:

as / while all day / night / evening… at eleven o’clock at that time, at the time

Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or the Past Continuous or the verbs in brackets. 1. Simon ______________ (watch) the match when the TV ______________ (break down). 2. __________ they __________ (play) cards at 10 o’clock yesterday? 3. Paula ______________ (forget) to phone Sam on his birthday. 4. I ______________ (clean) the house while my husband ______________ (work) in the garden. 5. What __________ you __________ (talk) about when I ______________ (come) in? 6. Yesterday I ______________ (see) Margaret at the supermarket, but I ______________ (not speak) with her. 7. At nine o’clock yesterday morning, the plane ______________ (fly) to London from Paris. 8. Paul ______________ (be) ill last Sunday, so he ______________ (miss) the football match. 9. While Tom and Sally ______________ (go) home, they ______________ (meet) Jane. 10. Last night we ______________ (watch) a film on TV, but it was so boring that I ______________ (fall) asleep. 11. They ______________ (not sleep) at four o’clock in the afternoon. 12. I ______________ (eat) my lunch when the doorbell ______________ (ring). 13. While Charles ______________ (close) the door, he ______________ (realise) that he had no keys. 14. David ______________ (exercise) all evening yesterday. 15. We ______________ (buy) this perfume while we ______________ (stay) in Paris. 16. What time __________ you __________ (arrive) home last night? 17. Sally ______________ (ride) her bicycle when she ______________ (have) the accident. 18. __________ Alex __________ (get) many presents on Christmas Day?

19. While Diana ______________ (build) a sandcastle, her brothers ______________ (swim) in the sea. 20. Debbie ______________ (sing) in the school choir many years ago. 21. Laura ______________ (trip) on the pavement while she ______________ (run). 22. I ______________ (drink) a glass of milk every day when I was a child. 23. __________ it __________ (rain) at seven o’clock this morning? 24. While Lucy ______________ (wash) the glass, she ______________ (cut) her finger.

ANSWER KEY A

1. was watching / broke down 2. were … playing 3. forgot 4. was cleaning / was working 5. were … talking / came 6. saw / didn’t speak 7. was flying 8. was / missed 9. were going / met 10. watched / fell 11. weren’t sleeping 12. was eating / rang 13. was closing / realised 14. was exercising 15. bought / were staying 16. did … arrive 17. was riding / had 18. Did … get 19. was building / were swimming 20. sang 21. tripped / was running 22. drank 23. was … raining 24. was washing / cut