1. PAST SIMPLE / PAST CONTINUOUS
Complete the following chart. You are given the examples. Can you infer the uses
and form?
PAST SIMPLE PAST CONTINUOUS
FORM:
- Regular forms: <- ed > FORM:
- WAS / WERE + GERUND
- Irregular forms: NO RULES
Interrogative / Negative: auxiliary verb:
Interrogative / Negative: auxiliary verb:
USES:
USES:
1. Punctual events in the past. The
1. Past action in progress. The action is
action is considered as completed.
considered in the middle.
“Yesterday, I wrote a composition for
“Yesterday at 6.00, I was writing a
the English class”
composition for the English class”
6.00
(X) Present ↓
( ) Present
2. Consecutive actions.
2. Parallel actions.
“Yesterday evening, I arrived home quite
“Yesterday evening, I was writing a
late. I had a shower and then, I had a
composition while my mother was
little of food. Next, I watched TV and
cooking dinner”
later, I went to bed earlier than usual
because I was too tired.”
writing
( )
( X---X---X---X---X ) Present
cooking dinner
( ) Present
3. A punctual action interrupts another action in progress.
“Yesterday evening, Catherine phoned me while I was writing the composition”
phoned
↓
( ) Present
writing