Past simple vs Past continuous/CT2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Past simple vs Past continuous

there are two actions in the past, one happened before the other (and was interrupted)

an action or situation in the past is completed (afgerond).

Past continuous

Past simple

was/were + verb + ing

verb + ed / 2e rij (onregelmatige werkwoorden)

Past continuous

Past simple

We use the past continuous...

To talk about an action that was in progress when another action took place

(for the shorter action, which happened while the longer one was in progress, we use the past simple)

Examples:

1. At 7 a.m. Doug was having breakfast. He was sitting  at the table and he was drinking coffee.

2. When he was finishing his breakfast, Meg came into the kitchen

past simple:

• Completed action 
• Important when it happened

Time expressions:

last night, in 2015, this morning, when i was young, five minutes ago.

Past simple summary:

• completed
• short duration

Past simple form:

• regular : verb + -ed
• irregular 

past continuous:

• action happened in progress
• happened before another action

Time expressions:

when, while 

past continuous summary:

• activity
• longer duration

Past continuous form:

• was/were + verb + -ing

past simple vs past continuous

Past Simple & Past Continuous

 I was reading the newspaper, when all of a sudden my cat jumped onto my lap. 

Signal words past simple? (welke woorden geven aan dat het een past simple is?)

1. for, yet, never, ever
2. yesterday, last year, ago, when
3. always, often, usually, never
4. right now, at the moment

Signal words for the past continuous? (welke woorden geven aan dat het een past continuous is?)

1. when, while
2. always, never, ever, often
3. right now, at the moment
4. yesterday, last week

Past simple

Past continuous

was cycling

were doing

cried

slept

was studying

watched

was reading

In a sentence with the past continuous AND the past simple, the .............. interrupts the .................... .

1. past simple / past continuous
2. past continuous / past simple

Past simple

Past continuous

Past simple

Past continuous

Fred _______ down the hall,
when he dropped his phone.

1. walks
2. was walking
3. walked
4. were walking

She ______ her teeth at 7 a.m. this morning, when her phone rang.

1. brushes
2. brushed
3. was brushing
4. brush

I ______ fun on my phone,
when my sister ruined the mood.

1. had
2. have
3. was having
4. were having

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

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

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

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

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

Past continuous vs past simple

Did ... watch)

Were .... watching

called

was calling

He _______ TV,
when he _____ something.

1. was watching, was hearing
2. was watching, heard
3. was watching, heared
4. watched, was hearing

She ______ while she ______ the dishes yesterday evening.

1. was singing, was doing
2. sang, were doing
3. was singing, did
4. sang, did

You _______, when you _________
that the music wasn't on.

1. danced, were noticing
2. was dancing, noticed
3. were dancing, noticed
4. danced, was noticing

What were you doing at 13.30?
I _______ to my friends
and ______ my lunch.

1. chatted, ate
2. was chatting, ate
3. chatted, was eating
4. was chatting, eating

We _______ and you _______,
when he _______ into the room.

1. were drinking, were talking, was entering
2. were drinking, were talking, entered
3. drank, talked, was entering
4. drank, talked, entered

I _________ a brownie, when
Mum _____ into the room.

1. was eating, walked
2. were eating, walked
3. ate, was walking
4. ate, were walking

The end