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Past simple and past continuous
The document discusses the past simple and past continuous tenses in English. It provides examples of how each is formed and the main uses of each tense. The past simple is formed with an -ed ending while the past continuous uses an -ing ending. The past simple is used to describe completed actions while the past continuous describes ongoing actions happening at the same time. Certain verbs like state of being, possession, senses and feelings are usually only used in the past simple, not continuous form. Time expressions are also provided to demonstrate when each tense is typically used.
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Past simple and past continuous
- 1. Past Simple andPast ContinuousPepa Mut
- 2. FormPast simple:I workedI didn’t workDid you work?-edspelling:Loved, stopped, planned, studied, playedPast continuous:I was workingI wasn’t workingWere you working?-ingspelling:Dancing, planning, studying, playing, lying (lie)
- 3. Use 1: UsedseparatelyTwo long actions happen at the same time.She was doing her homework while her brother was playing on the computer.One short action happens after another.She knockedon the door and came in.
- 4. Use 2: Bothtenses togetherPast simple: new action that interrupts another actionPast continuous: an action already in progress.While I was sitting in a meeting my mobile suddenly rang.
- 5. Use 3: Emphasison timePast Continuous: to emphasize progress and that an action was taking place at a specific time. We were watching TV at eight this morning.Past Simple: just to mention something that happened in the past.We went to the movies last Sunday.
- 6. The following verbsare usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).-state: be, cost, fit, mean (They were on holiday.)-possession: belong, have (I had a cat.)-senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch (He felt the cold.)-feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, want (I loved pizza)-brain work: believe, know, understand (I didn’t understand)They had a dog.
- 7. Time expressionsI wasgoing down when I fell off the stairs. While we were shopping Susan was talking on the phone.We were having dinner when the bell rang.While she was washing the dishes, he was ironing.