Past Simple vs Past Continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Past Simple

+) verb+ed or 2nd form

-) didn't + infinitive

?) Did + subject + infinitive

*for things that are completely finished 

Past Continuous

+) was/were + verb + ing

-) wasn't/weren't + verb + ing

?) was/were + subject + verb + ing

*to indicate something took a while in the past

*to indicate a long action in the past that got interrupted by a shorter action (shorter action = past simple)

The man (to win) the game yesterday.

1. win
2. wins
3. won
4. winned

(your sister / to have) a party last night?

1. Did your sister have?
2. Did your sister had?
3. Had your sister?
4. Have your sister?

We (not / to go) away on holiday last year.

1. didn't went
2. didn't goed
3. went not
4. didn't go

She (to act) in a play last year.

1. acted
2. acts
3. act
4. did act

I (to read) a book when the doorbel (to ring).

1. read - rang
2. was reading - was ringing
3. was reading - rang
4. read - was ringing

He (to cycle) while his sister (to run)

1. cycled - ran
2. was cycling - ran
3. cycled - was running
4. was cycling - was running

We (to have) a lot of fun when the party suddenly (to end).

1. was having - ended
2. had - was ending
3. were having - ended
4. were having - was ending

He (to play) football all day yesterday.

1. played
2. was playing
3. were playing
4. playing

Exercise 1

Finish the sentences by putting the verbs in the past simple and/or past continuous

Type the whole sentence!

(She / to read) a book when the phone (to ring)?

My son (to find) a coin while he (to walk).

She (not / to do) her hair when the postman (to come).

When they (to arrive) we (to wait) for the bus.

The mixer (to break) down when I (to cook) dinner.

They (to talk) to each other while we (to watch) a film.

They (not / to notice) that we (to watch) them.

The boys (not / to play) because it (to rain).

(you / to see) him when he (to eat) those cakes?

When the light (to go) out, I (to have) a bath.

Exercise 2

Extra practice

Practise some more on the following website

Step 1: write the answers in your notebook

Step 2: type the answers on the website and check them

Step 3: correct any mistakes you've made in your notebook

https:

Exercise 3

Extra challenge

Make a quiz about the past simple and past continuous

* come up with at least 6 sentences

* exhange your quiz with somebody else

* check each other's work