The document explains the differences between the past simple and past continuous tenses in English. It details how to form these tenses, provide negative and question forms, and includes examples of usage and associated time expressions. The past simple indicates a completed action, while the past continuous describes an ongoing action at a specific time in the past.

1. PAST SIMPLE &
PAST
CONTINUOUS

2. Which one is past simple?
* My parents called
me yesterday.
* My parents were
having dinner at 8
pm last night.

3. Past simple
The past simple tense shows us that the action is
complete and in the past now. We have to add +ed
at the end of a verb to form it or use irregular
verbs. For example:
Sam played basketball when he was in university.
I woke up early this morning.
(e.g. called, played, arrived)
(e.g. wake → woke, break → broke, feel → felt).

4. We make negative form of past
simple with didn’t and infinitive
verb:
My parents didn't call me
yesterday.
I didn't wake up early this
morning.

5. We make question form of past simple
with did and then the subject and
infinitive verb:
Did you wake up early this
morning?
Did Sam play basketball when he
was at university?

6. More examples:
Lisa went to the supermarket yesterday.
Sam cooked a tasty dinner yesterday.
My mother bought a dress for me.
I didn't play football yesterday.
They didn't go to the theater last month.
She didn't arrive on time this morning.
Did you have fun with your friends
yesterday?
Where did she go for her last holiday?
What did they watch on TV last night?

7. Past time expressions:
*Yesterday
*Ago
*Last week/night

8. Which one is past continuous?
* What were you
doing last night?
* What did you eat
yesterday?

9. Past continuous
The past continuous shows us that the action
was already in progress at a certain time in
the past. We have to use was/were and
verb+ing to form it. For example:
We were cleaning the house all morning.
I was studying at 8 pm last night.
I/she/he/it + was
You/we/they + were

10. We make negative form of past
continuous with wasn’t/weren’t and
verb + ing
He wasn’t listening to the lecture.
Children weren’t sleeping during the
ride.

11. We make question form of past
continuous with were and then subject
and verb + ing
Was he listening to the lecture?
Were the children sleeping during the
ride?

12. More examples:
It was snowing yesterday.
They were eating at the restaurant.
You were working yesterday
She was not doing her work.
We were not going out for dinner.
I was not taking the examination.
What were you two talking about?
Where were you playing soccer yesterday?
Where were they playing music last Friday?

13. Past continuous time expressions:
*Yesterday
*during
*last night/week

14. I) (not/drink) any beer last night.
2) She (get on) the bus in the centre of the city.
3) What time (he/get up) yesterday?
4) Where (you/get off) the train?
5) I (not/change) trains at Victoria.
6) We (wake up) very late.
7) What (he/give) his mother for Christmas?
8) I (receive) £300 when my uncle died.
9) We (not/use) the computer last night.
10) (she/make) good coffee?
Exercise:

15. Thanks for the
attention!!!