Past simple vs past continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1-3

Welcome students!

Welcome to your English lessons!

Today's lesson: past simple vs past continuous

Mr. Westra

When do you use a past simple or a past continuous

Past simple

A past action.

It needs a time in the past at the end of the sentence.

Regular verbs end with -ed

Irregular verbs have their own form (p. 283)

Past continuous

An action that took place over a longer period in time.

It needs signal words like when or while or multiple actions.

Since it is in the past you need to use the past form of to be.

He was working while his girlfriend was resting on the couch.

Mixed sentences

In some situations these two different tenses can exist in the same sentence!

This happens when an action in progress is interrupted by another.

The students were working when the headmaster entered.

Past Simple vs Past Continuous:

We were dancing at the party

1. Past Simple
2. Past Continuous

Past simple vs. Past continuous:

They ____ (talk), when the teacher ___ (get) angry.

1. was talking - got
2. were talking - got
3. talked - was getting
4. talked - were getting

Past simple vs. Past continuous:

It ____ (start) to rain while they ____ (walk) outside.

1. was starting - walked
2. were starting - walked
3. started - was walking
4. started - were walking

Past simple vs. Past continuous:

I ______ (fall) asleep, while I ________ (watch) TV.

1. fell - watched
2. was falling - was watching
3. was falling - watched
4. fell - was watching

Past Simple vs Past Continuous:

He went to the cinema.

1. Past Simple
2. Past Continuous

Past simple vs past continuous
The lights ....................(go out) while I .................(eat) dinner

1. go out / was eating
2. went / was eating
3. gone / was eating
4. went out/ was eating

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

When they .... (talk) we .... (hear) something

1. was talking - heard
2. were talking - heard
3. talked - was hearing
4. talked - were hearing

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

My sister .............. (walk) in while I was making my homework

1. walked
2. was walking

Past simple vs. Past continuous:

When I ______ (fall) asleep, I ________ (watch) TV.

1. fell - watched
2. was falling - was watching
3. was falling - watched
4. fell - was watching

Past Simple vs Past Continuous:

Hoe zet je een werkwoord in de Past Simple vorm?

1. werkwoord + (e)d
2. werkwoord + ing
3. werkword + was/were +ing
4. werkwoord + t