Past simple vs continuous

Prof. Nisrine El Hannach

 Simple Past
• [verb + ed] or irregular verbs
Use 1: Completed action in the past
I went to my English lesson yesterday.
Use 2: A series of completed actions in the past
I went to my English lesson, then I had dinner with my new classmates, then
I walked home.
Use 3: Habits in the past or duration in the past
I learned English for two years.
I visited my friend in England every year when I was younger.
I used to go swimming three times a week when I was a child.
EXTRA TIP: We often use ago with sentences in the past tense:
I bought my first guitar a long time ago.
• The Simple past describes a completed action in a time before
now and things that happen one after another in the past.
Simple past regular verbs
Irregular verbs
To be
Simple past signal words
• Use the simple past when you say when something happened.
See the following signal words:
frequency: often, sometimes, always
We sometimes had no school.
a definite point in time: last week, when I was a child,
yesterday, six weeks ago: They were in London last week.
• an indefinite point in time: the other day, ages ago, a long
time ago: He learned English when he was young.
More simple past signal words: ago, in 2011, in 1999, ... last
month, last week, last year, yesterday.
 Simple past - questions
• To form a question: 'did' + subject + infinitive
• I ate oranges in 2011. Did I eat oranges in 2011?
We went to school last week. Did we go to school last week?
He took his dog for a walk last week. Did he take his dog for a
walk last week?
• Questions with was/were
Sentences with 'to be' (was/were). Questions with was/were -
Simple Past.
She was in London. Was she in London?
They were at the station. Were they at the station?
 Simple past negative
• Negative sentences Simple Past: examples
I knew Covent Garden. I didn't know Covent Garden.
We went to school every day. We didn't go to school every day.
He took his dog for a walk. He didn't take his dog for a walk.
• I was sick last week. I wasn’t sick last week
 Past continuous
• [was/were + V + ing]
Use 1: Interrupted action in the Past
I was doing my English homework when you called.
Use 2: Action continuing at a specific time
Last night at six o’ clock I was doing my English homework.
Use 3: Parallel actions
I was watching Desperate Housewives while he was doing his
homework.
• USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly"
expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often
happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression
"used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words
"always" or "constantly“ between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
 She was always coming to class late.
 He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
 I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
ING Spelling Rules
The following exceptions exist when spelling words ending in ING:
1). If the verb ends in an E we remove the E and add ING.

Infinitive ING form

to live living
to have having
to make making
to take taking
 ING Spelling Rules

2)If the verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the

final consonant and add ING.
Infinitive ING form
to stop stopping
to sit sitting
to plan planning
to get getting
to swim swimming
 ING Spelling Rules

3)If a two-syllable verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we do not double the final consonant when
the stress is on the first syllable.

Infinitive ING form

to happen happening
to enter entering
to offer offering
to suffer suffering
 ING Spelling Rules

4)But, we do not double the final consonant when the verb ends in W, X or Y or when the final syllable is
not emphasized.

Infinitive ING form

to fix fixing
to enjoy enjoying
to snow snowing
 ING Spelling Rules

5). If the verb ends in IE we change it to YING.

Infinitive ING form

to lie lying
to die dying
to tie tying
 ING Spelling Rules

6)If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the final L and add ING.
Note: In the United States (US) they do not double the L when the accent is on the first syllable.

ING form ING form

Infinitive
(UK) (US)
to travel travelling traveling
to marvel marvelling marveling
 ING Spelling Rules

7) If the verb ends in a stressed vowel + R, we double the final R and add ING.

Infinitive ING form

refer referring
defer deferring
 ING Spelling Rules

8) If the verb ends in an unstressed vowel + R, we do not double the final R and add ING.

Infinitive ING form

to offer offering
to suffer suffering
to whisper whispering
 REMEMBER
• Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot
be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous
meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses.
Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you
must use Simple Past.
Examples:
 Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
 Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs

such as:
always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
 You were just studying when she called.
 Were you just studying when she called?
Exercises
• Fill in the correct form of the past tense.

1. I ________________ my old friend in town the other day. He ________________ to ignore me and

________________ somewhere else. (SEE, SEEM, LOOK)

2. The teacher ________________ a photo of us while we ________________ up the tree. (TAKE,CLIMB)

3. We ________________ Martha at the airport last week. She ________________ for the arrival of her

sister while we ________________ to New York. (MEET, WAIT, TRAVEL)

4. "What ________________ to him? – He ________________ totally surprised when I

________________ him. " – (YOU SAY, LOOK, SEE)

5. He ________________ exam papers when I ________________ him. (CORRECT, VISIT)

6. A man ________________ on the road while I ________________ my bike. Luckily, I

________________ not to crash into him. (FALL, RIDE, MANAGE)

KEY
1. I saw my old friend in town the other day. He seemed to ignore me and looked / was
looking somewhere else. (SEE, SEEM, LOOK)
2. The teacher took a photo of us while we were climbing up the tree. (TAKE, CLIMB)
3. We met Martha at the airport last week. She was waiting for the arrival of her sister
while we were traveling to New York. (MEET, WAIT, TRAVEL)
4. "What did you say to him? – He looked totally surprised when I saw him. " – (YOU
SAY, LOOK, SEE)
5. He was correcting exam papers when I visited him. (CORRECT, VISIT)
6. A man fell on the road while I was riding my bike. Luckily, I managed not to crash into
him. (FALL, RIDE, MANAGE)
________________ away from the fear of punishment?
(she/steal/?)
________________________ to, Daddy? (who/you/speak/?)
You _______________ to her at that moment. (talk)
The boat __________________ in one position. (not/stay)
Then he ______________ the whole story. (tell)
The boat ________________ back to the wharf. (not/go)
She thought he ______________ at her. (stare)
___________________________________________?
(to what end/men and women/suffer/?)