1. Simple Past vs. Past Continuous
When do we use
each tense?

2. Use the simple past for:
1) action that happened in the past and is . . .
over, done, finished
Use the past continuous for:
action that was in progress at a specific point in the past OR
2) focusing on an action that continued for a long time in the past
Examples . . .

3. 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.
*Time Expressions frequently used with the simple past:
yesterday, last ______,
past dates (in 1990), _____ ago, etc.

4. 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 last week.

5. Grammar Structure:
Here are some reminders about how to make the simple past and past continuous:

6. The simple past: structure
English has two types of verbs in the past tense:
taught
walked
studied
gave
became
cried
lived
did
irregular
regular
Regular verbs
Irregular verbs
regular
irregular
Look at the following list of past tense verbs…
which verbs are regular, and which are irregular?
irregular
regular
regular
irregular

7. **Be careful with spelling changes!
For regular verbs, simply use the –ed form of the verb in a positive sentence.
played
When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.
Donna ______________ and _______________ in Paris when she was younger.
lived
studied
**Be careful with
spelling changes!

8. Unfortunately, these forms must be memorized!
For irregular verbs, use the correct past tense form in positive sentences.
Unfortunately, these forms must be memorized!
Last week, I ___________ you a letter.
The students _____________ a speech in English. They __________ a great job!
sent
gave
did

9. I, He, She, It WAS They, We, You WERE The verb BE
Remember the forms of verb BE for the simple past tense:
I, He, She, It WAS
They, We, You WERE

10. Simple Past (Negative)
For all verbs (EXCEPT be), use:
simple form
of VERB +
didn't
Examples . . .

11. 1) Sara worked yesterday. Sara didn’t work yesterday
1) Sara worked yesterday. Sara didn’t work yesterday. 2) They had an argument. They didn’t have an argument. 3) Sam took classes last year. Sam didn’t take classes last year. 4) I learned how to sew. I didn’t learn how to sew.

12. VERB BE (Negative)
For this verb ONLY, never use didn’t. Simply ADD the word NOT after the verb.
I was tired. I was NOT tired.
She was here. She was NOT here.
They are happy. They are NOT happy.

13. The Past Continuous: verb + -ING
Don’t forget that VERB BE is part of this structure.
I, He, She, It WAS
You, We, They WERE
verb
-ING +

14. Examples: 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.

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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.
_____________
_____________
_____________

18. Using both tenses together:
Sometimes we use both the simple past and the past continuous together to mean . . .
That one action (simple past) interrupted a continuing action (past continuous)
Examples . . .

19. continuing action = past continuous interrupting action = simple past
Dan burned his hand while he was cooking dinner.
=in the middle of cooking dinner, he burned his hand.
2. When Helen called, we were having dinner.
=in the middle of eating dinner, Helen called.
continuing action = past continuous
interrupting action = simple past

20. We can use 2 verbs in past continuous to say that two actions were happening simultaneously in the past:
Ex. Jim was at the park. He was sitting on the grass and reading.

21. These activities give excellent
For more practice . . .
1) Go to our class website:
2) On the right side, click on Grammar Site. Then click on 330.
3) Click on Grammar, and then go down the page to Verbs. Click on activities for Simple Past and Past Continuous.
These activities give excellent
explanation and practice.

22. And . . .
Remember to ask your teacher or another classmate if you need help.
Your teacher can give you more explanation, examples, and exercises if you need them.