PAST SIMPLE VS.

PAST
CONTINUOUS
PAST SIMPLE
 PAST SIMPLE

2 USES

ACTIONS THAT
WERE DONE FOR LISTING EVENTS
IN THE PAST IN THE PAST
THAT ARE CHRONOLOGICAL
OVER

Two days ago I went to

Yesterday first we woke up
check the ship.
then we took a shower after
(Irregular verb)
that we got dressed then we
Yesterday we talked a lot
went to work and finally we
with my best friend.
got home. (Irregular verb)
(Regular verb)
 2 TYPES OF VERBS
2 TIPOS DE VERBOS
IRREGULAR
REGULAR VERBS
VERBS It changes.
Verb + “ed” There is a list of
verbs.

VERB INFINITIVE VERB IN THE PAST VERB PAST PAST

WALK WALKED INFINITVE PARTICIPL

TALK TALKED BEGIN BEGAN BEGUN

RECOGNISE RECOGNISED GO WENT GONE

CUT CUT CUT
 TIME EXPRESSIONS
EXPRESIONES DE TIEMPO T
I
PAST SIMPLE PAST CONTINUOUS M
(SIMILAR TO THE PAST CONTINUOUS (MORE SPECIFIC TIME) E
BUT NOT SO SPECIFIC)

(LAST) YEAR/ MONTH / WHILE / AS (SIMULTANEOUS ACTIONS) E

WEEK /NIGHT X
2 YEARS / 3 DAYS / 5 WEEKS YESTERDAY (AT) 5:00 PM P
(AGO) R
E
YESTERDAY (LAST) YEAR/ MONTH / WEEK AT THIS SAME
S
MOMENT
S
(LAST) YEAR/ MONTH / WEEK AT 3 O`CLOCK
I
THE OTHER DAY YESTERDAY AT 4:00 PM O
TWO WEEKS AGO AT 6:00 PM N
THE DAY BEFORE ALL DAY YESTERDAY S
WHEN * (INTERRUPTED ACTION) YESTERDAY FROM 5 TO 7 PM
(IN) 2004 YESTERDAY THE WHOLE DAY
WHEN * (INTERRUPTED ACTION)
SPELLING RULES
RULES EXPLANATION EXAMPLES
RULE 1 If the verb ends in a consonant return - returned P
add –ed help – helped
cook - cooked A
RULE 2 If a regular verb ends with E add Advise --advised S
only D. Agree---agreed
live – lived T
create – created
die -- died

RULE 3 If a one-syllable verb ends with Plan---planned S

CONSONANT+VOWEL Rob---robbed
+CONSONANT, double the Stop---stopped I
consonant and add ED. Stir---stirred
…………….. zip---zipped M
However, do not double one- ………………
syllable words ending in –w, -x, or bow - bowed P
–y. play - played
mix - mixed L
RULE 4 In words of two or more syllables
that end in CONSONANT+VOWEL
prefer – preferred
regret-----regretted
E
+CONSONANT double the last permit-----permitted
consonant only if the last syllable (The last syllable is stressed)
is stressed and add ED.
visit – visited
listen-----listened
develop-----developed
remember-----remembered
(The last syllable isn’t stressed)
RULE 5 If a regular verb ends with carry------carried
CONSONANT + Y change the Y to copy-----copied
I and add ED. cry-----cried
marry----married
reply-----replied
study-----studied
worry ------worried

RULE 6 If a regular verb ends with annoy--annoyed

CONSONANT+VOWEL+Y just add Enjoy--enjoyed
ED. play-----played
stay-----stayed
obey---obeyed
…..............
Exception:
pay - paid
lay – laid
say - said

RULE 6 If a regular verb ends with L and Cancel:

the last syllable is not pronounced canceled (Am) cancelled (Br)
more strongly Travel:
than the others, the final L is often traveled (Am) travelled (Br)
doubled in British English but not in
American
English + ED.
HE
SH E
IT
I PAST SIMPLE:
YOU
WE
THEY

USES USE 1: Things that are over. GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE

AFFIRMATIVE Last year we went to Russia. (Irregular TIME EXPRESSION + SUBJECT +

Verb) VERB PAST (REG/IRREG) +
Yesterday she walked with him. COMPLEMENT
(Regular Verb)

NEGATIVE Last year we didn’t / did not go to TIME EXPRESSION + SUBJECT +

Russia.
Yesterday she didn’t / did not walk
with him.
INTERROGATIVE Did we go to Russia last year ?
Did she walk with him yesterday ?
DIDN’T / DID NOT + VERB
INFINITIVE + COMPLEMENT
DID + SUBJECT + VERB INFINITIVE +
COMPLEMENT + TIME EXPRESSION

SHORT ANSWERS Yes, we did. YES, SUBJECT + DID

No we didn’t. NO, SUBJECT + DIDN’T
………
Yes, she did.
No, she didn’t.
PAST
CONTINUOUS
PAST CONTINUOUS
ACTION THAT
WAS
HAPPENING IN A
USE 1
SPECIFIC
MOMENT IN THE
PAST

ACTION THAT WAS

HAPPENING IN A
SPECIFIC MOMENT
IN THE PAST WHEN USE 2
SUDDENLY
ANOTHER ACTION
INTERRUPTED IT

TO
CONTEXTUALIZE USE 3
THE SETTING
USE 1: ACTION THAT WAS HAPPENING
IN A SPECIFIC MOMENT IN THE PAST.
Yesterday during the
laytime, we were all What were you doing
overseeing the process so yesterday during the
that everything could work laytime?
ok

CREW OF THE SHIP CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP

USE 2: ACTION THAT WAS HAPPENING IN A SPECIFIC MOMENT IN THE PAST WHEN
SUDDENLY ANOTHER ACTION INTERRUPTED IT
Last week, I was driving home when
……….. I saw the car accident
Last week, I saw the car accident
when was driving home
On April 14th, 1912 at 11:40 pm the
Titanic was saling when suddenly it
crashed with an iceberg producing
the sinking of this enormous vessel.
……
On April 14th, 1912 at 11:40 pm, the
Titanic (it) crashed with an iceberg
producing the sinking of this
enormous vessel when it was saling.

*vessel: Embaracación
2 ACTIONS *sinking: hundimiento
A: THE ACTION THAT
WAS HAPPENING IN
THE PAST (Past
Continuous)
TIME EXPRESION + SUBJECT 1 + VERB TO BE PAST
B: THE ACTION THAT
(WAS / WERE) VERB “ING” + WHEN (SUDDENLY) +
INTERRUPTED IT (Past SUBJECT 2 + VERB PAST SIMPLE (REGULAR/ A
Simple) IRREGULAR VERB)
TIME EXPRESION + SUBJECT 2 + VERB PAST SIMPLE
(REGULAR/IRREGULAR VERB + WHEN + SUBJECT
1+ VERB TO BE PAST (WAS / WERE) VERB “ING” B
 USE 3: CONTEXTUALIZE THE
SETTING
Yesterday when I went to oversee the project, everything was going wrong.
The workers were going out before their schedule. The materials were melting
because of the sun. I was very angry and of course I talked to them and gave
them the last chance in order to change the situation.