A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Simple past vs. past continuous

Lesson code: 118K-87NB-4AP9 INTERMEDIATE
American English

1 Presentation

The simple past and the past continuous tenses are used to talk about the past.
We use the simple past to talk about a completed event in the past:
Yesterday, I had breakfast.
Last summer, I went to Italy.
We use the past continuous to talk about a past activity that was in progress at a particular time in the
past:
At 8 am, I was eating breakfast.
`Where were you last night?' `I was sleeping.'
We use the simple past and past continuous to talk about a completed past event that happened when
another activity was in progress.
It started to rain while I was walking in the park.
I was watching TV when the phone rang.
What were you doing when he arrived?
For a list of irregular verb forms, go to https://www.linguahouse.com/learning-english/general-
english/english-irregular-verbs or use your cell phone to read the code below:

Dialogue
A: I called you earlier, but you didn't answer.
B: I'm sorry, I was playing the guitar when the phone rang.
LE

1/3
AB

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 Simple past vs. past continuous
A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

2 Practice 1
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the past continuous tense of the verbs in brackets:

1. Joanne (make) breakfast when Peter called.

2. While he (do) the dishes, he ran out of dishwashing liquid.
3. They decided to go to the beach while the sun (still/shine)
4. I called you this morning, but you didn't answer the phone. (you/take) a shower?
5. At 8 pm last night, Mario (not/do) his homework. He (play) computer
games instead!
6. John had a car accident while he (drive) to work. He (talk) on his cell
phone when he reversed into a tree.

3 Practice 2
Self-study: Make sentences about you using the past continuous.
Class activity: Work in pairs. Ask your partner what he or she was doing at the specific times mentioned
below:

Example: 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

LE

2/3
AB

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 Simple past vs. past continuous
A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

4 Practice 3
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the past continuous or simple past tense of the verbs
in brackets:

1. What movie (you/watch) when I (call) you last night?

2. While he (jog) in the park, a dog (bite) him on the leg.
3. I (see) Adam again in the park this morning. He (walk) his dog.
4. You (not/hear) me get home last night because you (sleep).
5. John (not/take) his umbrella with him last night because it (not/rain).
6. Mr. Lee (work) so hard that he (fall) asleep at this desk.
7. While they (swim), Sam (spot) a dangerous shark. They quickly
(swim) back to the shore and (alert) the lifeguard.
8. (you/have) lunch when I (call) your office yesterday?
9. (anyone/call) when I (make) dinner?
10. I (not/have) time to email you because I (study) for my French test.
11. When Abdul (arrive) home, his brother (listen) to some music.
12. Mario (have) an accident while he (ski). Fortunately, it
(not/be) serious.
13. I (see) you this morning on the street, but I (can/not) say hi to you
because you (walk) too fast.

LE

3/3
AB

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 Simple past vs. past continuous - Key
A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

2- Practice 1

1. was making
2. was doing
3. was still shining
4. Were you taking
5. wasn't doing; was playing
6. was driving; was talking

3- Practice 2

If done as a classroom activity, go around monitoring the interviews.

4- Practice 3

1. were you watching; called

2. was jogging; bit
3. saw; was walking
4. didn't hear; were sleeping
5. didn't take; wasn't raining
6. was working; fell
7. were swimming; spotted; swam; alerted
8. Were you having; called
9. Did anyone call; was cooking
10. didn't have; was studying
11. arrived; was listening
12. had; was skiing; wasn't
13. saw; couldn't; were walking

LE

i
AB

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT