Simple Past vs.

Past Continuous
Use the simple Use the past
past for: continuous for:
1) action that 1) action that was in
happened in the progress at a specific
past and is . . . point in the past
OR
over, done, finished
2) focusing on an
action that continued
for a long time in the
past
 Simple Past (Examples)
Action that was completed in the past:
Tom went fishing last week.

I worked until 2:00 p.m. yesterday.

My family came to visit me last year.

*Time Expressions frequently used with the

simple past:
yesterday, last ______,
past dates (in 1990), _____ ago, etc.
Past Continuous (Examples)
Action that was in progress at a
particular point in the past:

At 2:00 yesterday, Tom was playing

soccer.

Sophia wasn’t home last night when I

called her. I think she was working.

Lisa and her husband were visiting us

last week.
 Grammar
Structure:

Here are some reminders

about how to make the
simple past and past
continuous:
 The simple past: structure
English has two types
of verbs in the past • taught
tense: • walked
 Regular verbs • studied
 Irregular verbs • gave
Look at the following • became
list of past tense • cried
verbs… • lived
which verbs are
regular, and which
• did
are irregular?
For regular verbs, simply use the –ed form of the
verb in a positive sentence.

When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.

Donna ______________ and _______________

in Paris when she was younger.
 For irregular verbs, use the correct
past tense form in positive sentences.

Last week, I ___________ you a letter.

The students _____________ a speech in

English. They __________ a great job!
 The verb BE
Remember the forms of verb BE for
the simple past tense:

I, He, She, It WAS

They, We, You WERE
 Simple Past (Negative)
For all verbs (EXCEPT be), use:
1) Sara worked yesterday.
Sara didn’t work yesterday.

2) They had an argument.

They didn’t have an argument.

3) Sam took classes last year.

Sam didn’t take classes last year.

4) I learned how to sew.

I didn’t learn how to sew.
 VERB BE (Negative)

For this verb ONLY, never use didn’t.

Simply ADD the word NOT after the
verb.

I was tired. I was NOT tired.

She was here. She was NOT here.
They are happy. They are NOT happy.
 The Past Continuous:
Don’t forget that VERB BE is part of
this structure.

WAS
I, He, She, It
You, We, They WERE
 Examples:

My mom was trying to call me last

night, but I wasn’t home.

The kids were studying last night at

9:00.

I was cleaning my house all day

yesterday.
 Past Continuous (Negative)

For this tense, simply ADD the word

NOT after the verb BE.

They were arguing last night.

They were NOT arguing last night.

She was yelling at me.

She was NOT yelling at me.
 Important Note about
Past Continuous!
Some verbs are NOT typically used in
the continuous tense. Instead, we
prefer to use these verbs in the simple
tenses (simple present or past).
These verbs are called STATIVE (or
non-action) verbs. Here are some
examples:
want like love hate
know need see hear
believe understand have (possession)
forget remember belong
 Examples:

I liked Rome.
NOT: I was liking Rome.

She had a headache.

NOT: She was having a headache.

I knew the answer.

NOT: I was knowing the answer.
Using both tenses together:

Sometimes we use both the simple

past and the past continuous
together to mean . . .

That one action (simple past)

interrupted a continuing action (past
continuous)
1.Dan burned his hand while he was
cooking dinner.
=in the middle of cooking dinner, he burned his
hand.

2. When Helen called, we were

having dinner.
=in the middle of eating dinner, Helen called.
We can use 2 verbs in past
continuous to say that two actions
were happening simultaneously in the
past:

Ex. Jim was at the park. He was

sitting on the grass and reading.
 For more practice . . .
1) Go to our class website:
www.ecc6.blogspot.com
2) On the right side, click on Grammar
Site. Then click on 330.
3) Click on Grammar, and then go down the
page to Verbs. Click on activities for
Simple Past and Past Continuous.

These activities give excellent

explanation and practice.
 And . . .
Remember to ask your
teacher or another
classmate if you need
help.

Your teacher can give

you more explanation,
examples, and exercises
if you need them.