The document discusses the differences between the past simple and past continuous tenses. The past simple is used for actions that started and finished in the past or repeated actions. The past continuous describes actions that were ongoing or in progress at a time in the past. It is used when talking about two simultaneous past actions, one ongoing and one starting or finishing. Examples are provided to illustrate when to use each tense, including sentences using "when" or "while" to connect two actions, one in the past simple and one in the past continuous.

1. Past continuous
vs.
Past simple

2. Past simple
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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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?

6. 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?
Past continuous

7. 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

9. 1. What were you doing At 8 am yesterday, I was
having breakfast.
• What were you doing at 8 am yesterday? I was
having breakfast.
• 8 am yesterday - noon yesterday - 4:30 pm -
yesterday 9:00 - last night midnight- last night - 7:00
this morning

10. PAST SIMPLE vs. PAST CONTINUOUS
•Past Simple
•I woke up early this morning.
•Did you wake up early this
morning?
•Past Continuous
•- What were you doing at
8.00 p.m. last night?
• - I was studying a.t 8.00

11. • A Short action interrupted another longer action in the
past
She was cleaning a window when
the telephone rang.
she/clean a window telephone rang

12. •She was cleaning a window when the phone rang
Longer action
(past continuous tense)
Short action
(past simple tense)
Now
Past
She was cleaning the window
the phone rang
(This action interrupted the longer
action)

13. While the children were playing in
the park, it started to rain.
While the children / play in the parkit / start to rain
Longer action
(past continuous tense)
Short action
(past simple tense)

14. • A short action happened during another longer action in the
past.
While Kate was reading a book, the
dog came.
Kate / read a book the dog / come

15. •While Kate was reading a book, the dog came.
Longer action
(past continuous tense)
Short action
(past simple tense)
Kate was reading a book
the dog came Action happened during
another longer action

16. Mike was driving a car when he saw
a helicopter.
Mike / drive a car see / a helicopter
Longer action
(past continuous tense)
Short action
(past simple tense)

17. WHEN or WHILE
•When
•When I arrived to the party, all my friends
were dancing
•When before an action in past simple
(short action)
•While
•He dropped a plated while he was washing the dishes
•While before and action in past continuous
(longer action).
We use when or while to connect two actions in the sentences

18. Dylan was diving when he saw
a turtle.
Dylan / dive when / see / a turtle

19. •Dylan was diving when he saw a turtle
•
Short action
(past simple tense)
Before the past simple

20. Kate was cycling to work when she
felt hungry.
Kate / cycle to work feel / hungry

21. The school bell rang while my class
was playing table tennis
The boys /play table tennis the school bell/ring