1. The Simple Past and Past Continuous Tenses.
The past continuous tense often describes or “sets” a scene. It is used with these:
●Activities in the recent past.
I was watching the news a moment ago.
●Activities at a specific time in the past.
At 8:00, he was writing his composition.
●Activities during a period of time in the past
My classmates were working on the project all summer M. A. Adam

2. Statements in the past continuous tense.
Affirmative Negative
I was studying then I was not studying then.
She was reading then She wasn’t reading then.
They were taking a test. They were not taking a
test.
M. A. Adam

3. Questions with the past continuous tense.
Possible answers
Qs affirmative negative
Was I studying then? Yes, I was No, I wasn’t.
Was she studying then? Yes, she was. No, she wasn’t.
Were they studying then? Yes, they were. No, they
weren’t
M. A. Adam
Pages 27 & 28

4. The Simple Past Tense
The past simple tense describes actions or situations that began and in the past.
Time expressions such these often appear with the simple past tense:
▪ yesterday ▪ last week(month, year)
▪the day before yesterday
▪ three (four, etc.) days ago
M. A. Adam

5. The past simple tense uses:-
● Past actions.
e.g.: 1. I studied at a Japanese university for
three years.
2. I got a scholarship a year ago.
●Past situation.
e.g. : 1. He enjoyed most of his classes.
2. He didn’t like math.
M. A. Adam

6. Statements with the simple past tense.
Affirmative Negative
I studied for an hour. I didn’t study.
It worked yesterday. It didn’t work yesterday.
He took math He did not take math.
M. A. Adam

7. Questions with simple past tense.
Questions Affirm Neg.
- Did I have classes tonight? Yes, I did. No, I didn’t.
- Did it work yesterday? Yes, it did. No, it didn’t
-Did they take math? Yes, they did. No, they
didn’t.
M. A. Adam
Pages