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    Simple Past vs. Past Continuous

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    Emily Chacón
    The document compares and contrasts the simple past and past continuous tenses in English grammar. It explains that the simple past is used for actions that were completed in the past, while the past continuous is used for actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. It provides examples of each tense and notes how they can be used together, such as describing an ongoing action that was interrupted by another action stated in the simple past.

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    Simple Past vs. Past Continuous

    Uploaded by

    Emily Chacón
    6 views15 pages
    The document compares and contrasts the simple past and past continuous tenses in English grammar. It explains that the simple past is used for actions that were completed in the past, while the past continuous is used for actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. It provides examples of each tense and notes how they can be used together, such as describing an ongoing action that was interrupted by another action stated in the simple past.

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    The document compares and contrasts the simple past and past continuous tenses in English grammar. It explains that the simple past is used for actions that were completed in the past, while the past continuous is used for actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. It provides examples of each tense and notes how they can be used together, such as describing an ongoing action that was interrupted by another action stated in the simple past.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    6 views15 pages

    Simple Past vs. Past Continuous

    Uploaded by

    Emily Chacón
    The document compares and contrasts the simple past and past continuous tenses in English grammar. It explains that the simple past is used for actions that were completed in the past, while the past continuous is used for actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. It provides examples of each tense and notes how they can be used together, such as describing an ongoing action that was interrupted by another action stated in the simple past.

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    Simple Past vs.

    Past Continuous
    Use the simple Use the past
    past for: continuous for:
    1) action that 1) action that was in
    happened in the past progress at a specific or
    and is . . . particular point/time in
    the past OR
    over, done, finished
    2) focusing on an action
    2) The simple past that continued for a long
    interrupts the time in the past
    situation describe by (background action)
    the past continuous
    Simple Past (Examples)
    Action that was completed in the past:
    Tom went fishing last week.

    I worked until 2:00 p.m. yesterday.

    My family came to visit me last year.

    I was watching T.V. when the phone rang

    While / Meantime, I was cooking my best friend was


    drinking beer close to me..

    *Time Expressions frequently used with the simple past:


    yesterday, last ______,
    past dates (in 1990), _____ ago, etc.
    Past Continuous (Examples)
    Action that was in progress at a
    particular point in the past:

    At 2:00 yesterday, Tom was playing


    soccer.

    Sophia wasn’t home last night when I


    called her. I think she was working.

    Lisa and her husband were visiting us


    on Tuesday at 7 pm
    last week.
    Grammar
    Structure:

    Here are some reminders


    about how to make the simple
    past and past continuous:
    The Past Continuous:
    Don’t forget that VERB BE is part of
    this structure.

    WAS
    I, He, She, It
    You, We, They WERE
    Examples:
    Repeated actions or annoying
    actions
    My mom was trying to call me last night,
    but I wasn’t home.

    The kids were studying last night at 9:00.

    I was cleaning my house all day


    yesterday.
    Past Continuous (Negative)

    For this tense, simply ADD the word


    NOT after the verb BE.

    They were arguing last night.


    They were NOT arguing last night.

    She was yelling at me.


    She was NOT yelling at me.
    Important Note about
    Past Continuous!

    Some verbs are NOT typically used in the


    continuous tense. Instead, we prefer to use
    these verbs in the simple tenses (simple present
    or past).

    These verbs are called STATIVE (or non-action)


    verbs. Here are some examples:

    want like love hate


    know need see hear
    believe understand have (possession)
    Forget remember belong
    Examples:

    I liked Rome.
    NOT: I was liking Rome.

    She had a headache.


    NOT: She was having a headache.

    I knew the answer.


    NOT: I was knowing the answer.
    Past Progressive & Simple Past 1

    Use past progressive with simple past to describe an action


    that was interrupted by another action.

    They were enjoying the


    morning when the thief
    stole the briefcase.

    stole
    now future
    past were enjoying
    Past Progressive & Simple Past 2

    Use past progressive for the action in progress. Use when and
    the simple past for the action that interrupts.

    The man was reading the


    newspaper when the thief
    snatched his briefcase.

    snatched
    now
    past future
    was reading
    Form sentences with while. Use
    Practice 2 the past progressive.

    Example: read / steal


    While the man was reading, the prisoner was stealing his wallet.

    1. talk / drink 3. play / watch 4. not look / burn


    2. shine / splash 5. talk / sit
    4.
    5.
    3.
    2. While
    1.While the
    Whilethe
    one woman
    thewoman
    manwas
    women
    sun was
    was
    was not
    playing
    were looking,
    talking pool,
    talking,
    shining, the the
    onfountain
    the
    the
    they toast
    phone,
    other
    were was
    the
    man
    drinking
    was burning.
    man
    was was
    tea.
    splashing.
    sitting in the chair.
    watching.
    PAST SIMPLE PAST CONTINUOUS
    PARA HABLAR DE UNA ACCIÓN ACABADA EXPRESA UNA ACCIÓN LARGA O
    EN UN TIEMPO ANTES DE AHORA EN UN INCOMPLETA EN EL PASADO:
    MOMENTO DETERMINADO. "I was going to spend the day at the beach but
    John Cabot sailed to America in 1498. I've decided to go on an excursion instead.”

    EXPRESIONES DE PASADO SIMPLE: PARA DESCRIBIR UNA ACCIÓN LARGA


    frecuencia: often, sometimes, always; INTERRUMPIDA POR OTRA CORTA:
    un punto determinado en el tiempo: last week, when I “I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm
    was a child, yesterday, six weeks ago. clock rang.“
    un punto no determinado en el tiempo: the other day,
    ages ago, a long time ago etc.
    PARA DESCRIBIR EL CONTEXTO EN QUE SE
    DESARROLLA UNA ACCIÓN:
    Ejemplos:
    “It was getting dark. The prince was walking
    •Yesterday, I arrived in Geneva.
    silently around the hall...”
    •She always played the piano when she was a
    child.

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