Past simple vs past continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo
• Leerjaar 2

past simple    vs.

past continuous

Past simple

Past continuous

-ed

was/were + verb+ing

long action

short action

sequence of events

describe a scene

interruption

in progress

The past simple...

• is used for events that happened and ended in the past. 
• is created by adding -ed behind the verb: 

Walk – walked      Look – looked (or irregular verbs)

• Negative sentences: didn't verb 
• Questions: Did ... verb ?

The past continuous...

• is used for events that were going on in the past.
  
• is created by was/were verb-ing:
  Walk – was walking      Look – were looking
  
  
• Negative sentences: wasn't/weren't verb-ing
• Questions: Was/Were ... verb-ing ?

Let's practice

I _____ (sit) in a cafe when you ______ (call) me.

1. sat / called
2. was sitting / called
3. sat / was calling
4. was sitting / was calling

Susie ______ (hear) a noise while she ______ (watch) a movie.

1. heard / watched
2. was hearing / watched
3. heard / was watching
4. was hearing / was watching

Yesterday I _____ (go) to the library, ______ (have) a swim and _____ (meet) Julie for coffee.

1. went / had / met
2. goed / haved / meeted
3. was going / was having / met
4. went / was having / was meeting

We _______ (play) tennis when John _______ (hurt) his ankle.

1. played / hurted
2. were playing / hurt
3. played / was hurting
4. were playing / hurted

When she ______ (walk) into the room, they ______ (not work).

1. walked / didn't work
2. was walking / didn't work
3. walked / weren't working
4. was walking / weren't working

We ______ (wait) on the platform, but the train _______ (not come).

1. waited / didn't come
2. were waiting / didn't came
3. were waiting / didn't come
4. were waiting / wasn't coming

Why _____ you _____ (listen) to loud music between 6-7am, it ______ (wake) me up.

1. did listen / woke
2. were listening / was waking
3. did listen / was waking
4. were listening / woke

Past simple

Past continuous

-ed

was/were + verb+ing

long action

short action

sequence of events

describe a scene

interruption

in progress

Save these links

https://www.engelsede-vmbo.nl/past-simple.html 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCpuksg-OkY

(copy paste if you can)