Past simple-past continuous

Past simple

-Affirmative

I/he/she/it/you/we/they + past simple form

Example: He started work at the age of seventeen.

-Negative

I/he/she/it/you/we/they + didn’t + infinitive

Example: I didn’t enjoy the film.

-Questions

Did + I/he/she/it/you/we/they + infinitive

Example: Did he go to university?

·Most verbs + -ed // -e + -d

Play-played // notice-noticed

·Consonant + -y à -ied // -l à -ll + ed

Apply-applied // study-studied // travel-travelled

·Doubling the final consonant

Plan-planned // spot-spotted // admit-admitted

Use:

• Events or actions in the past that have completely finished.

• Things which happened repeatedly in the past.
• Past states.

Past continuous

-Affirmative

I/he/she/it + was + -ing

You/we/they + were + -ing

Example: A woman was watching her son.

-Negative

I/he/she/it + wasn’t + -ing

You/we/they + weren’t + -ing

Example: They weren’t paying attention.

-Questions

Was + I/he/she/it + -ing

Were + You/we/they + -ing

Example: Was she helping you?

Use:

• To talk about in action which was happening at a specific moment in the past.
• To refer to a past action which was interrupted for a particular reason.

Exercises

Match A-C with sentences 1-3

A) A completed action in the past

B) A state or habit in the past

C) One action completed when another was in progress

1) When I arrived, people were playing drums

2) I recently visited Vanuatu

3) The boy was now a man

A= 2

B= 3

C= 1

1- A Read the information about Ed and Julia. Write questions using the past simple. Then invent complete answers to the questions

1- Did Ed leave home? No, Ed didn't leave home, because he wanted to stay with her parents

Ed

1 leave home – No

2 get a job – No

3 go to prison – Yes

Julia

4 go to university - Yes

5 do military service - No

6 get married - No

2 – Did Ed get a job? No, Ed didn't get a job, because he didn't look for it.

3 – Did Ed go to prison? Yes, Ed went to prison, because he robbed a bank.

4 - Did Julia go to university? Yes, she went to university, because she was very intelligent.

5 – Did Julia do military service? No, Julia didn't do the military service, because she was studying.

6 – Did Julia get married? No, Julia didn't get married, because she hated the weddings.

B. Write questions using the past continuous for of the verbs. Then answer the questions.

What (you/wear) yesterday? What were you wearing yesterday? I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.

1 What (you/do) an hour ago? What were you doing an hour ago? I was reading a book

2 (the sun/shine) yesterday? Was the sun shining yesterday? Yes, it was.

3 Who (you/talk) to before the lesson started? Who were you talking to before the lesson started? With a friend.

4 What (happen) in the class five minutes ago? What was happening in the class five minutes ago? There was a fight.

5 How (you/feel) while (you/travel) to school this morning? How were you feeling while you were travelling to school this morning? I was feeling good.

6 What (the teacher/do) while (you/do) exercise 1A? What was the teacher doing while you were doing exercise 1A? She was correcting the exams.

C. Choose the correct form of the verbs.

The sun was shining and I was enjoying my walk. But after a while, I realized that I was lost. I looked at my map, but I didn’t recognize the area. It was getting dark quickly now.

I spent the night scared and alone in the forest. When I woke up, I was lying with my face on the ground. I didn’t enjoy the experience, but afterwards I felt a little older and wiser.

Sergi Muñoz

Javi