Past simple - Past continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2-4

Past continuous - Past simple

Explanation grammar and recap

Past simple / past continuous

Write a sentence in the past simple using the verb 'go'.

Write a sentence in the past continuous using the verb 'go'.

Past simple

ww + ed 

or 2nd column of the irregular verbs

Examples:

He left early.

She worked at home.

Past continuous

was/were ww+ing

Example:

They were travelling.

She was reading.

NL:

'was/waren aan het'.

Pay attention!

• When two actions/events happen after one another,  you use past simple twice. 
• When two actions/events happen simultaneously, you use  past continuous twice.
• And when a longer action/event is interrupted by a shorter action/event, you use past continuous AND past simple.

So for example:

When two actions/events happen after each other , you use past simple twice. 

First she did her homework, then she watched a film.

So for example:

When two actions/events happen simultaneously, you use

past continuous twice.

While my father was cooking dinner, my mother was helping the kids with their homework.

So for example:

And when a longer action/event is interrupted by a shorter action/event, you use past continuous AND past simple..

We were watching TV when the bell rang.

When you called me, I was taking a shower.

Let's give it a go!

Interrupted

Simultaneously

After one another

When I got home, I had a cup of tea.

While my sister was watching TV, I was listening to music.

I was studying for English when my father called me.

While Lynn was sleeping,
Kim finished the presentation.

1. Past simple - past simple
2. Past continuous - past simple
3. Past continuous - past continuous
4. Past simple - past continuous

Mom swore when dad fell off his bike.

1. past simple - past simple
2. past continuous - past simple
3. past simple - past continuous
4. past continuous - past continuous

Choose the correct form of the verb in brackets:
My brother ... (dance) when I ... (come) in.

1. danced - came
2. was dancing - was coming
3. was dancing - came
4. danced - was coming

Dad ... (watch) a documentary about apes while we ... (read) a book.

1. watched - were reading
2. watched - read
3. was watching - read
4. was watching - were reading

The chef ... (cook) a nice meal after he ... (came) in late.

1. was cooking - came
2. cooked - was coming
3. cooked - came
4. was cooking - was coming

I understand the past simple/past continuous

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