Simple Past Tense and Past Continuous Tense

Simple Past Tense Past Continuous Tense OR Past Progressive

Rules: Rules:
Positive Subject + Past Verb / V2 (+ Object) Positive Subject + was / were + present participle / V-ing (+ Object)
Negative Subject + did not / didn't + Present Verb / V1 (+ Object) Negative Subject + was / were + not + present participle / V-ing (+ Object)
Question Did + subject + Present Verb / V1 (+ Object)? Question Was / Were + subject + present participle / V-ing (+ Object)?
Examples: Examples:
Positive * He went to bed at nine last night. Positive * He was sleeping when I arrived.
* We played football last Sunday. * We were playing table tennis.
* I bought a new car. * While my sister was taking a bath, the door bell rang.
Negative * He did not go to bed at nine last night. Negative * He was not (wasn't) sleeping when I arrived.
* We didn't play football last Sunday. * We were not (weren't) playing table tennis.
* I didn't buy a new car. * My sister was not (wasn't) taking a bath just as the door bell rang.
Question * Did he go to bed at nine last night? - Yes, he did. / - No, he didn't. Question * Was he sleeping when I arrived? - Yes, he was. / - No, he wasn't.
* Did we play football last Sunday? - Yes, we did. / - No, we didn't. * Were we playing table tennis? - Yes, we were. / - No, we weren't.
* Did you buy a new car? - Yes, I did. / - No, I didn't. * Was your sister taking a bath when the door bell rang?- Yes, she was. / - No, she wasn't.
Usages: Usages:
1). For a complete action in the past with a specific time, but the speaker 1). For an action going on during a point of time in the past.
sometimes does not mention the specific time. Form: ** Past continuous tense + point of time
* Mr. Sok died ten years ago. * She was bathing her baby at 7 o'clock yesterday morning.
Examples: * I met Dara at the party last night. Examples: * At 7 o'clock yesterday morning, she was bathing her baby.
* Last night, I dreamt about you. * We were at noon yesterday discussing the matter.
* She visited Japan with her family. * They were chasing a thief at dawn this morning.
2). For a past habit. (Discontinued habits) 2). For two actions happening simultaneously.
Form: Simple past tense + adverb / adverb phrase of frequency Form: Conjunction + past continuous tense + comma + past continuous tense
** Adverb / adverb phrase of frequency: always, usually, sometimes, on OR: Past continuous tense + conjunction + past continuous tense
Mondays,
* We visited
every
the day,
resortfrom
every
time
year.
to time, etc. *
**While I was singing
Conjunctions used:awhile,
song, as,
Vanna was
just as, playing a guita,
when
Examples: * He went hunting on Sundays. Examples: * Vanna was playing a guita while I was singing a song.
* The lady usually carried an umbrella whenever it rained. * My phone was ringing just as I was taking a bath.
* My grandfather always respected Buddhist monks. * The wind was blowing violently as we were having dinner.
3). For a repeated action "used to" - General habits. 3). For an interrupted action
Form: Subject + used + to-infinitive (phrase) Form: Simple past + conjunction+ past continuous tense
OR: Conjunction + past continuous tense + comma + simple past
* I used to walk to school alone. *
**AConjunctions
car ran over aused:
dog while,
as he was crossing
as, when, by the
the road.
time
Examples: * My father used to smoke a lot. Examples: * As the was crossing the road, a car ran over him.
* Did you use to eat beef? - Yes, I did. / - No, I didn't. * The boss came in while they were talking.
* He didn't use to go out for dinner. * By the time I was reading a newspaper, the light went out.
4). For obstinate habits in the past with "always"
Form: Subject + was / were + always + present participle (+object)
*** To express a speaker's annoyance
Examples: * I was always losing my key.
* He was always driving fast.
* The judges were always taking bribes.
Note: Forever, continually, constantly can be used for always
Examples: * I was forever / continually / constantly losing my key.
* He was forever / continually / constantly driving fast.
* The judges were forever / continually / constantly taking bribes.
* He was forever / continually / constantly lying to me.