1. The document provides instruction on forming, using, and differentiating between the past simple and past continuous tenses in English. 2. It explains that the past simple is used for completed actions, while the past continuous describes actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. 3. Examples are given to illustrate using each tense correctly, along with exercises for the reader to practice forming sentences using verbs in both the past simple and past continuous tenses.

1. Past Simple /
Past
Continuous

2. Past Continuous: Form
Affirmative: was / were + verb + ing
Negative: wasn’t (was not) + verb + ing
weren’t (were not) + verb + ing
Interrogative: was / were + subject + verb + ing ?
FORM:
What were they doing yesterday afternoon?
Kelly was packing. David was reading in the park.

3. Past Continuous: Use
Greg was writing an email.
What was Greg doing yesterday at 5 pm?
Now
5 pm
 An action that was happening at a specific point
in the past

4. Past Continuous: Use
Yesterday after dinner…
while
Jack and Sue were watching TV.
Roy was listening to music.
 Actions in progress at the same time
in the past
Now
Now

5. Past Continuous: Use
Two days ago…
 A continuous action interrupted by
another action in the past.
Carol was doing her homework
NOW
when Luke phoned her.

6. Complete with the verbs in brackets in the Past
Continuous
1. At 7.30 I ___________ (have) a shower.
was having
2. The host parents _____________ (phone) the exchange students.
were phoning
3. __________________ (they / study)?
Were they studying
4. He _____________ (not play) basketball.
wasn’t playing
5. What ______________________ (the students / do) ?
were the students doing
6. They ______________ (not ride) their bikes.
weren’t riding

7. Past Simple
and
Past Continuous

8. Past Simple / Past Continuous
Past Simple Describes a finished action in the past
Past
Continuous
Describes an action in progress
in the past
NOW
NOW
Yesterday I arrived home at 7 o’clock.
Yesterday at 4 pm I was having a swimming lesson.

9. 1. What time ______________________ (the Math lesson / finish)?
2. I ______________(have) dinner when my favourite TV show
________ (start).
was having
was going
did the Math lesson finish
3. When Paul ___________ (go) to school, he ________ (meet)
his best friend.
4. While Jessica _____________ (play) online games, her brother
___________ (text) one of his friends. Their little brother
_________________ (not watch) TV as usual. He ___________
(draw).
was playing
Complete with the verbs in brackets in the Past
Simple or Past Continuous.
started
met
was texting
wasn’t watching was drawing

10. Were his host parents waiting
didn’t pack
5. __________________________(his host parents / wait) for him
at the airport? Yes, they _________.
6. I ____________ (not pack) my suitcase yesterday because I
___________ (have) to study for a test.
Complete with the verbs in brackets in the Past
Simple or Past Continuous.
had
were
was he doing
7. What ____________ (he / do) when the film __________ (begin)?
began
went
8. Two days ago when the lights ____________ (go) out, Andy
___________ (write) a comment on his blog.
was writing