Past simple vs Past continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Today's goal

Recap on the Past continuous

To understand how to use the past simple and past continuous in combination

What can you remember about the past simple? (Any rules, signal words)

Past simple 

Gebruik: als iets in het verleden is gebeurd en ook is afgelopen

• Regelmatic werkwoorden = +ed, + ied or + d
  

        walk = walked, try = tried, close = closed

•  Onregelmatic werkwoorden = vanuit je hoofd leren p.288

• Negative: I didn't go to the concert yesterday
• Question: Did you go to the concert yesterday? 

What can you remember about the past continuous?

Past continuous

Gebruik: als iets in het verleden aan de gang was, iemand iets aan het doen was voor een tijd.

Twee delen voor de past continuous

was or were + verb+ing

 I, he, she, it - was            you, we, they - were 

Spelling rules past continuous

• Verbs ending in 'e' - close (lose the e)  = clos + ing = closing
• Verbs ending in 'y / x / w" - study = study + ing = studying
• Verbs that are (cvc) double the last letter - run = run + n + ing = running
• Verbs such as tie, lie - 'ie' becomes 'y' = tying, lying

(CVC - consonant, vowel, consonant)

Use the past continuous:
I ___________ (to talk) on my telephone.

1. were talking
2. did talk
3. was talking
4. talked

Use the past continuous:
(Missing words only)
They _________(to chat) for ages.

Use the past continuous:
(Missing words only)
We ______(to eat) dinner when the doorbell rang.

Wanneer gebruik
je de
Past Continuous?

1. Als iets aan de gang is
2. Als iets gisteren is gebeurd
3. Als iets een tijdje aan de gang was
4. Als je wilt zeggen wat je aan het doen bent

Hoe vorm je de Past Continuous?

1. am/is/are ww + ing
2. was/were ww + ing
3. can / could /may
4. do /does

Past simple vs past continuous

Voor twee handelingen uit het verleden is de handeling die langer duurt een Past Continuous

     (Dit geld ook voor de handeling die wordt onderbroken door een kortere handeling)

Past simple - past continuous

Past simple vs past continuous

When - is often followed by the past simple.

E.g. When I came home, the door was standing wide open.

While is often followed by the past continuous

E.g. While I was travelling around Europe I visited many different cities. 

Which one is the past simple and which one is the past continuous?

past simple

past continuous

Past simple

Past continuous

was watching

thought

were sleeping

was running

were 

was thinking

cancelled

Which is the longer activity?
I was washing my car when my neighbour said hello.

1. washing the car
2. the neighbour talking

Which is the shorter activity?
When Tom knocked on the door they were eating dinner.

1. Tom knocking
2. Eating dinner

Brendon ........ (repair) his motorbike when his mother ..... (call) him in for dinner.

1. was repairing / called
2. repaired / was calling

We ...... (drive) to Glasgow when we ....... (run) out of petrol.

1. drove / were running
2. were driving / ran
3. driving/ ran
4. drove / running

He................(cycle) along when his mobile.................(fall) out of his pocket

1. cycled/ was falling
2. cycling / fell
3. was cycling/ fell
4. cycled / fell

I _____ my homework when she called.

1. done
2. were doing
3. did
4. was doing

George  ........ (fall) off the ladder while he ..... (paint) the ceiling.

Past continuous vs past simple

Fill in the correct form.

fell

was falling

was painting

painted

The lights .................(not work) when I ............(get) home.

1. not work/ got
2. weren't working/ got
3. were not working/ get
4. didn't work/ get

He ..............(meet) a lot of friendly people while he ..................(work) in California (Missing words only, no commas)

She ...............(hear) a loud bang while she ................(talk) with her friends.(Missing words only, no commas)

Emily and I _____ to the zoo yesterday.

1. went
2. go
3. was going
4. goed

_____ you ____ the new David Attenborough on Netflix last night?

1. do / watch
2. did / watched
3. did / watch
4. were / watching

They _________ their trip,
when they saw a giant spider.

1. was enjoying
2. were enjoying
3. enjoyed
4. did enjoy

.... you ..... (you watch) TV when I ..... (call) you?

Past continuous vs past simple

Did ... watch)

Were .... watching

called

was calling

Continue with...

This online exercise and the worksheet

I understand when to use the Past simple and the Past continuous

Not at all

A little bit

More yes than no

Totally