Past Simple Vs Past Continous

Use
After another or at the same time?

Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time?
Simple Past
Past Progressive
at the same time
after another
Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watchin
She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-
TV.
mails.
New action or already in progress?

If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses: Simple Past the new action
and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.
Simple Past
Past Progressive
action already in progress
new action
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.)
Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)? Or do you want to put emphasis on the
progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?
Simple Past
Past Progressive
just mentioning
emphasising progress
Colin played football yesterday.
Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.
Simple Past or Past Continuous - A Dialog

Fill in the blanks with the simple past or past continuous form of the verbs. Then click on the answer button to
see the correct answers.
A: Hi, Mary. I ___ (see/neg.)
you at school last Monday.
Answ er
B: Hello, Bob. I ___ (come/neg.)
on Monday. I wasn't ___ (feel)

Answ er
(decide)
well, so I ___
Answ er
to go to the doctor.
Answ er
A: Oh! ___ (be)
it serious?
Answ er
B: No, the doctor ___ (examine)
me and ___ (tell)

Answ er
flu. He ___ (prescribe)
me I ___ (have)
Answ er
some medicine and ___ (tell)

Answ er
the
Answ er
me to go home and rest.

Answ er
A: ___ you ___ (stay)
home all day last Monday?

Answ er
B: No, only in the morning. I ___ (have)
to work in the afternoon, and guess what?

Answ er
A: What?
B: When a friend ___ (drive)
me home, he ___ (crash)

Answ er
the red light.

Answ er
A: ___ anyone ___ (get)
hurt?
Answ er
his car. He ___ (see/neg.)

Answ er
B: Thank God, nobody ___ (do)
.
Answ er
A: I'm happy to hear that. Well, Mary, I have to rush now. While I ___ (listen)
to your story,
Answ er
I ___ (remember)
that my wife ___ (ask)

Answ er
me to go to the mechanic to get our car.

Answ er
See you later. Take care.

B: You too. Bye.
Copyright (C) 2000 Vera Mello (vcqm@ruralsp.com.br)
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
1.
While Tom was reading
2.
Marvin came
emails.
3.
The thief sneaked
, Amely was watching

home, switched
a documentary on TV.
on the computer and checked
into the house, stole
the jewels and left
trace.
4.
Nobody was listening
while the teacher was explaining
5.
While we were doing
a sight-seeing tour, our friends were lying
6.
He woke
up and looked
his
at his watch.
without a
the tenses.
on the beach.
7.
The receptionist welcomed
the guests and asked
8.
The car broke
9.
The boys were swimming
10.
My father came
11.
As long as one group was preparing
down and we had
to walk home.
while the girls were sunbathing

in, looked
Martha turned
around and told
me to tidy up my room.
dinner, the others were collecting
campfire.
12.
While the parents were having
13.
them to fill in the form.
wood for their
breakfast, their children were running

off the lights and went
about.
to bed.
14.
We were waiting
for Jane, when suddenly Louis came
15.
I was cycling
16.
He passed
17.
I fell
18.
When Mike and Jane were painting
19.
Tom broke
20.
The phone rang
around the corner.
through the park, when I heard
a strange noise.
her a message when the teacher was not looking

asleep while I was watching
TV last night.
the walls, their dog knocked
his leg when he was playing

when I was sitting
over the paint pot.
frisbee.
on the toilet.
21.
I was jogging
22.
Robert fell
23.
Archimedes discovered
24.
When we were travelling
in the park, when two squirrels crossed

off the ladder when he was picking
my way.
cherries.
the theory of buoyancy while he was taking

around Ireland, we met
a bath.
some very nice people.
25.
While she was speaking
26.
When I left
27.
Caroline burnt
on the phone, the milk boiled
over.
the house this morning, the sun was shining
her hand when she was ironing
her clothes.
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive).
28.
When I was doing
the washing-up, I broke
a plate.
w as doing
29.
While Tom was playing
30.
He drank
31.
I was having
32.
When my father was working
33.
She went
34.
When it started
35.
When Jane was doing
36.
When I was
37.
I did not understand
broke
the piano, his mother was doing

some juice and then he ate
the washing-up.
a few chips.
dinner when I suddenly heard
a loud bang.
in the garden, an old friend passed
to school, took
out her textbook and began
to rain, our dog wanted
what they were talking
Blarney Castle.
an accident.
about.
38.
When I got
39.
It was
40.
So I decided
up yesterday, the sun was shining

a beautiful morning.
to cycle around a little.
to learn.
to come inside.
a language course in Ireland, she visited

on my way home, I saw
by to see him.
41.
I went
to the shed and took
out my bike.
42.
While I was cycling
43.
One man was mowing
44.
After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly appeared
past some villages, I saw
some people in their gardens.
the grass while his wife was picking
rain.
45.
Luckily, a farmer noticed
46.
While it was raining
47.
After a while, the sun came
48.
I thanked
me and told
outside, I was sitting
strawberries.
and it started
me to come in.
in the farmer's house.
out again.
the farmer for his hospitality and moved
Two days ago, a murder happened
in Market Street at about seven pm.
Yesterday, Sherlock Holmes arrived

He asked
at the crime scene to investigate.
one of the tenants in the house.
Sherlock: What were you doing
yesterday at seven?
Tenants: I was watching

Sherlock: Were
Tenants: Yes, I was
Sherlock: Did you hear
a football match on TV.

you alone?
.
anything suspicious?
on.
to
Tenants: Yes, about seven o'clock, two people were arguing

so interesting. So I just turned
anymore.
in the hallway. But the football match was

up the telly and then did not hear
anything

Past Simple Vs Past Continous

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Past Simple Vs Past Continous

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Use

After another or at the same time?

She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-

New action or already in progress?

While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)

My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.)

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

Colin played football yesterday.

Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.

Simple Past or Past Continuous - A Dialog

B: Hello, Bob. I ___ (come/neg.)

on Monday. I wasn't ___ (feel)

A: Oh! ___ (be)

B: No, the doctor ___ (examine)

me and ___ (tell)

flu. He ___ (prescribe)

some medicine and ___ (tell)

me to go home and rest.

A: ___ you ___ (stay)

home all day last Monday?

B: No, only in the morning. I ___ (have)

to work in the afternoon, and guess what?

me home, he ___ (crash)

the red light.

A: ___ anyone ___ (get)

his car. He ___ (see/neg.)

B: Thank God, nobody ___ (do)

that my wife ___ (ask)

me to go to the mechanic to get our car.

See you later. Take care.

While Tom was reading

, Amely was watching

into the house, stole

the jewels and left

while the teacher was explaining

While we were doing

a sight-seeing tour, our friends were lying

The receptionist welcomed

the guests and asked

The car broke

The boys were swimming

As long as one group was preparing

down and we had

while the girls were sunbathing

around and told

dinner, the others were collecting

them to fill in the form.

wood for their

breakfast, their children were running

for Jane, when suddenly Louis came

When Mike and Jane were painting

The phone rang

around the corner.

through the park, when I heard

her a message when the teacher was not looking

his leg when he was playing

over the paint pot.

When we were travelling

in the park, when two squirrels crossed

the theory of buoyancy while he was taking

some very nice people.

While she was speaking

on the phone, the milk boiled

A: _ you _ (stay)

A: _ anyone _ (get)