The TíxerProductions

presents

The Past Simple vs

The Past Continuous

(the story of two brothers)

Starring

• The Past Simple

I played

We broke

She didn’t jump

Did they run?

• The Past Continuous

I was playing

We were breaking

She wasn’t jumping

Were they running?

Chapter 1

Use of the Past Simple

We use the past simple for finished actions in the past

Yesterday I went to the cinema with my friends

What time did you arrive home?

I didn’t pass my English test last term

When?

The past

The simple past is normally followed by time expressions

• Yesterday, in 1990, then, when…

• Last month, last week, last summer…

• 3 days ago, some time ago, a week ago…

Chapter 2

Use of the Past Continuous

We use the past continuous for actions happening in the past

We were watching TV with some friends

I wasn’t studying English

What were you doing yesterday morning?

The action is in progress

The past

The past continuous is normally used with times and time expressions

• At 10.00 this morning

• Yesterday evening at 9.00

Chapter 3

The two tenses together

Two or more verbs in the past simple

One action follows the other action

Yesterday morning I got up, I brushed my teeth andI had breakfast

Got up brushed had

1 2 3

Two or more verbs in the past continuous

The actions happen at the same time

Last night, while my father was watching the TV,my sister was listening to the radio and I was doingmy homework in my bedroom.

Was doing

Was listening

Was watching

Two or more verbs in the past simple and the past continuous

The action expressed by the past simpleinterrupts the action expressed by the past continuous

While I was driving to work, I had an accidentI was having a shower when the phone rang

What were you doing when I called you last night?

The action expressed by the past continuousbegins before the action expressed by the past simple

While I was driving to work, I had an accidentI was having a shower when the phone rang

What were you doing when I called you last night?

While is normally followed by the past continuous

When is normally followed by the past simple

1st

2nd

The End