Past simple and past continuous (Revision)


Past simple

Form:

The form of the Past Simple is the same in all persons.

Positive:

I/You/He/She/It/We/They went/moved to London in 2001.

Negative:

We use didn’t + infinitive (without to) in all persons.

I/You/He/She/It/We/They didn’t go/move to London in 2001.

Question:

We use did + infinitive (without to) in all persons.

When did I/you/he/she/it/we/they go/move to London?


Use:

We use the Past Simple to talk about:

1 finished events in the past when we know when they happened.

I bought some nice things at the market last weekend.

2 past habits or states. A time expression is usually necessary.

I always got up at six in those days.   (habit)

I lived in Australia for several years. (state)


Common time expressions with the Past Simple:
  * last night/Saturday/week/month/year;
  * yesterday; yesterday morning/afternoon/evening;
  * in the twentieth century/1927;
  * ten years/two weeks/a month ago.




Past continuous

Form:

Positive:                                                               Negative:

Subject + to be + verb-ing                                               Subject + not to be +
verb-ing

I/He/She/It was playing tennis at 5:00.        I/He/She/It was not playing tennis at 5:00.

We/You/They were playing tennis at 5:00. We/You/They were not playing tennis at 5:00.

Question:

to be + subject + verb-ing

Were you playing tennis at 5:00?                                 Yes, we were.  No, we weren’t.

Was he playing tennis at 5:00?                                    Yes, he was. No, he wasn’t.


Use:

We use the Past Continuous to talk about:

1 activities that continued for some time in the past, especially to show a longer activity that
was interrupted by a shorter one.

I was making dinner when the phone rang.

2 activities that form the background, especially to set a scene.

We were walking along the beach chatting to one another. Suddenly, we heard a call for help.

3 activities happening at a certain time in the past.

What were you doing at 10 o’clock last night?

4 two activities happening at the same time in the past.

While I was eating dinner, my parents were watching TV.







Past simple and past continuous (Practice)


1 Choose the most suitable tense.

1 While Diana watched/was watching her favourite TV programme, there was a power-cut.

2 Who was driving/drove the car at the time of the accident?

3 What exactly were you doing/did you do when I came into your office yesterday?

4 I was living/lived in Canada for two years.

5 We were always eating/we always ate at seven in those days.



2 Put each verb in brackets into either the Past Simple or the Past Continuous.

1 Andrew …………………(arrive) when I was getting ready to go out.

2 I ………….. (get) up early this morning. I …………..(wash), …………..(dress) and then I …………….. (have)
breakfast.

3 Margaret ……………………………. (not/go) to work yesterday. She was ill.

4 My brother ……………….……. (break) his leg while he ……………..……………(ski) last week.

5 When …………………………………………………………… (get married/your parents)?

6 I ….………………..…(phone) you last night but you ……………………………(not answer).

What……………………………………………………………………………. (you do)?

7 We …………………….……… (not go) out yesterday because it……………………………… (rain).

8 …………………………..…..…. (you eat) spaghetti every day when you lived in Italy?

9Although it rained a lot, I …………………………………. (enjoy) my holiday last year.

10 What ……………….…………………….. (you/do) yesterday? – I ….………………….…………. (go) to the cinema.

11What………………………………………… (you/do) at 9:30 yesterday? – I ……………………… (watch) a film on TV.

12 They ……………………………………... (fly) to America two years ago.

13 I wasn’t hungry last night. I ………………………………….. (not/eat) anything.

14 He first …………………….…….. (meet) his wife when he ……………….…………………. (study) in Berlin.



3 Choose  the correct word or phrase.


1  When we were in Canada, we went / were going skiing almost every day.

2  About four years ago, I decided / was deciding to become a chef.

3  Georgia had / was having a shower when someone knocked at the door.

4  Holly and I ran from the house to the taxi because it rained / was raining heavily.

5  Two men argued / were arguing outside, so I went to see what was happening.

6  Daniel called / was calling you at one o’clock yesterday, but you were here with me.

7  We ate / were eating breakfast when a letter came through the letter box.

8  As I walked past the window, I saw that Paula made / was making a cake.

9  I dreamt / was dreaming about my favourite band when the alarm clock went off.

10 While I practised / was practising the trumpet late last night, a neighbour came to complain.