Past simple vs past continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2,3

Learning Intentions

1. I know the difference between past simple and past continuous (rules)
2. I know when to use which tense (signal words)
3. I know how to form the two tenses

Past Simple

You use the past simple when something happened in the past and is finished.

The past simple is what we call in Dutch: de onvoltooid verleden tijd

'to be' in de verleden tijd is onregelmatig en kent 2 vormen!

NB: Let op het verschil: where = waar en were = waren (=verleden tijd van zijn)

de vorm:

Regular Verbs

present                   past

I walk          ->         I walked

you walk    ->   you walked

he walks    ->     he walked

we walk     ->     we walked

you walk    ->   you walked

they walk  ->  they walked

 Regular Verbs

spelling exceptions 1

Als een werkwoord eindigt op een medeklinker + -y, dan verandert de -y in -ie: I carry - I carried

Let op, er verandert niets als het werkwoord eindigt op klinker + -y:

I play - I played

 Regular Verbs

spelling exceptions 2 en 3

Als een werkwoord eindigt op 

-e, dan komt er in de past simple alleen een -d achter: 

I live - I lived

In de past simple wordt de laatste medeklinker verdubbeld als er één klinker voor staat: 

I drop - I dropped

Past Simple - Irregular verbs

Some verbs in English are irregular, this means that in the past tense they don't get '-ed' at the end, but have their own form.

To write -> wrote;      I wrote her a letter last week

to go -> went;            He went to Italy last year

to make -> made;     They made a very nice meal two days ago

Past Simple - Irregular verbs

There are no rules for the irregular verbs, you just have to learn them by heart 

past simple: 

Je gebruikt hulpwerkwoord did bij vragen en ontkenningen.

- Vraagvorm: Did + hele werkwoord
    He painted the floor.    ->   Did he paint the floor?
    They went outside.      ->   Did they go outside?    

- Ontkennende vorm: didn't (did not) + hele werkwoord

    He painted the floor.    -> He didn't paint the floor.
    They went outside.      ->  They didn't go outside.    

 Wanneer gebruik je de past simple?          

                ezelsbruggetje

               

Waldy

When, Ago, Last ... , Days/Dates, Yesterday/Year

Write the past simple form of: stop

Write the past simple form of: cry

My sister .......... (play) the guitar last year.

They ....... (not go) home after school yesterday. (short form!)

Fill in: You ..... very happy yesterday.

1. am
2. is
3. was
4. were

Choose the correct past simple form:
........ for his test?

1. Was he studying?
2. Did he studied?
3. Studied he?
4. Did he study?

Choose the correct Past Simple form:
In July 2019 Boris Johnson ..... the Prime Minister of the UK.

1. became
2. become
3. becomed
4. becoming

Choose the correct Past Simple form:
I ..... him with his work.

1. didn't helped
2. didn't help
3. helped not
4. didn't helping

Choose the correct Past Simple form:
...... see that movie last night?

1. Did you see?
2. Did you seed?
3. Did you saw?
4. Saw you?

de past continuous

Voor de past continuous, heb je net als bij de present continuous het werkwoord 'to be' nodig!!

Een paar signaalwoorden die bij de past continuous horen:

When                                  We were walking down the street, when.....

While                                  While I was driving to work yesterday,.........

At that time                     At that time, the industry was flourishing.

At 3 pm yesterday        At 3 pm yesterday, I was playing tennis.

DE PAST CONTINUOUS GAAT VAAK SAMEN MET DE PAST SIMPLE

past continuous: je was iets aan het doen (langere activiteit)

past simple: er gebeurde iets (kort, feitje, opsomming)

Past Simple or Past Continuous
What ___ Leo ___ (do)
when you called him yesterday?

Past simple or Past continuous:
Our sister was doing the dishes while we ........ (watch) TV.

Past Simple or Past Continuous
(Gebruik de korte vorm!!)
The internet ___ (not exist) in 1980.

Past Simple & Past Continuous

 I _________________________ (read) the newspaper, when all of a sudden my cat ___________________ (jump) onto my lap. 

Past Simple & Past Continuous

I _______________ (wait) for the bus when it _______________ (start) to rain. 

Past Continuous & Past Continuous

While we ______________________ (walk) the dog, the neighbours _______________ (wash) their car. 

www.perfect-english-grammar.com

Evaluation :

1. easy peasy (eitje)
2. difficult
3. in between
4. improving, still need to practice a bit