past simple vs past continuous

1. PAST SIMPLE
VS PAST
CONTINUOUS

2. Contents of this template
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3. Table of contents
01 04
02
03
Uses of each
sentences
Grammar
Exercises
Solutions

4. Uses of each
tense
01

5. Simple past
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.

6. 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

7. Past continuous
❑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.

8. Simple past and past continuous
• When we use these
two tenses together, it
shows us that the past
simple action
happened in the
middle of the past
continuous action,
while it was in
progress.
• The past continuous
and the past simple
help us to show
how two past
actions or situations
are connected.

9. Simple past and past continuous
We often use these tenses to show an action interrupting
another action.
o I broke my leg when I was skiing.
o As I was going to work, I saw an old friend.
o We were watching television when the power
went off.

10. Simple past and past continuous
• I WAS COOKING DINNER WHILE MY
HUSBAND WAS CLEANING THE HOUSE.
• SHE WAS STUDYING WHEN THE ACCIDENT
HAPPENED.
WHEN
CUANDO
WHILE
MIENTRAS

11. Grammar
02

12. 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?

13. 1.Olga teaches English
2. Horus plays in the park
3. The students learn English
4. My mom cooks delicious
5. My friend eats pizza

14. Past simple
❑Affirmative statements:
Subject + Verb (regular/ irregular) + Complement.
•Olga taught English last year
•Horus played in the park yesterday
•The students learned english last class
•My mom cooked delicious on christmas
•My friend ate pizza last saturday. 1.Olga teaches English*
2. Horus plays in the park
3. The students learn English
4. My mom cooks delicious
5. My friend eats pizza

15. Past simple
Negative statements:
Subject + Did + Not + Verb (base form) + Complement.
❑ Olga didn’t teach English last year
❑ Horus didn’t play in the park yesterday
❑ The students didn´t learn english last class
❑ My mom didn’t cook delicious on christmas
❑ My friend didn’t eat pizza last saturday.
1.Olga teaches English*
2. Horus plays in the park
3. The students learn English
4. My mom cooks delicious
5. My friend eats pizza

16. Past simple
❑Questions:
Did + Subject + Verb (base form) + Complement + ?
❑ Did Olga teach English last year?
❑ Did Horus play in the park yesterday?
❑ Did The students learn english last class?
❑ Did My mom cook delicious on christmas?
❑ Did My friend eat pizza last saturday?
1.Olga teaches English*
2. Horus plays in the park
3. The students learn English
4. My mom cooks delicious
5. My friend eats pizza

17. 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?

18. Exercises
03

19. 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

20. Write the correct form of the verbs.
● I (not see) ________________ Susan, when i (walk) ___________ in
the park.
● While She (do) ____________ her homework, her father (come)
____________ home.
● When David (see) _____________, he (not work)
________________, he (sleep) _________ at his desk.
● The Burglar (come) ____________ while they (play) ____________
some loud music.
● They (not hear) ________________the burglar because they (play)
_______________ the music too loudly.
● The dog (bark) _____________, but nobody (come)
___________________.
● I (watch) ________________ TV when my aunt (arrive)
_________________.
● He (study) _______________ in Salamanca when the civil war
(begin)_____________________.

21. https://create.kahoot.it/share/b1-grammar-past-simple-
vs-past-continuous/82ed047e-0a13-4cd7-a3ef-
bddb831d20fa
KAHOOT GAME

22. https://www.educaplay.com/game/5531490-
simple_past_vs_past_continuous.html
LISTENING ACTIVITY

23. Solutions
04

24. 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

25. Write the correct form of the verbs.
● I (not see) didn´t see Susan, when i (walk) was walking in the
park.
● While She (do) WAS DOING her homework, her father (come)
CAME home.
● When David (see) SAW Tom, he (not work) WASN’T WORKING,
he (sleep) WAS SLEEPING at his desk.
● The Burglar (come) CAME while they (play) WERE PLAYING
some loud music.
● They (not hear) DIDN’T HEAR the burglar because they (play)
WERE PLAYING the music too loudly.
● The dog (bark) WAS BARKING , but nobody (come) CAME.
● I (watch) WAS WATCHING TV when my aunt (arrive) ARRIVED.
● He (study) WAS STUDYING in Salamanca when the civil war