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GENERAL ENGLISH · GRAMMAR PRACTICE · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

PAST SIMPLE
VS. PAST
CONTINUOUS
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1 Presentation

The past simple and the past continuous tenses are used to talk about the past.

We use the past simple 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 past simple 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?

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

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INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

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 washing up 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 8pm 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
mobile 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 8am yesterday, I was having breakfast.

What were you doing at 8am yesterday? I was having breakfast.

8am yesterday midday yesterday

4:30pm yesterday 9pm last night

midnight last night 7:00 this morning

4 Practice 3

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the past continuous or past simple tense of the
verbs in brackets:
1. What film (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?

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INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

9.
(anyone/call) when I (cook) dinner?
10. I (not/have) time to email you because I (study) for my French exam.
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 hello to
you because you (walk) too fast.

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TEACHER MATERIALS · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

Key

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

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