PAST SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE DO THE FILL IN EXERCISE. ChiaraSbarbada2015
The PAST SIMPLE is formed by ONE verb. It can be regular or irregular. I studied English yesterday. I saw a football match last Sunday. The PAST CONTINUOUS is formed by TWO verbs: Past simple of BE verb +ing. I was doing my homework. ChiaraSbarbada2015
She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails. When you use SIMPLE PAST you express that the actions in the past happened one after another She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails. When you use Past Continuous the actions in the past happened at the same time Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watching TV. ChiaraSbarbada2015
When you use SIMPLE PAST When you use Past Continuous you only want to mention that an action took place in the past Colin played football yesterday. When you use Past Continuous You want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football. ChiaraSbarbada2015
I was sitting in a meeting. If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses: Simple Past for the new action and Past Continuous for the action already in progress. When my mobile rang I was sitting in a meeting. My mobile suddenly rang. While (mentre) I was sitting in a meeting, ChiaraSbarbada2015
While Tom (play)…..…… the piano, his mother (do)……..… the washing-up. When I (be) …..…… on my way home, I (see) …..…… an accident. I (fall) …..…… asleep while I (watch) …..…… TV last night. Tom (break) …..…… his leg when he (play) …..…… frisbee. ChiaraSbarbada2015