The simple past tense and the past continuous tense are so often confused ,so I think it's a good idea to revise them together and see how they differ.
In the simple past tense a specific time is used to show when an action began and finished but in the past continuous tense a specific time only interrupts the action :
-Last night at 8 PM ,I ate dinner. ( I started eating at 8 PM ).
- Last night at 8 PM ,I was eating dinner ( I started earlier,and at 8 Pm ,I was in the process of eating dinner ).
Usage:
We use the past continuous tense :
1- To talk about activities that continued for sometime in the past:
- He was watching TV all evening.
-They were playing football at 4 PM yesterday.
- Yesterday at this time, I was reading a book.
2-An activity was going on when another one took place :
When or While are used in this case: ( while is always followed by a past continuous clause ):
- While I was writing the email,the computer suddenly went off.
-It started to rain while we were having a picnic.
- I was watching TV when she called.
- He was sleeping last night when someone stole his car.
- What were you doing when you broke your leg?
Form:
We form the past continuous with : was /were + -ing .
Negatives and questions :
-He wasn't paying attention to the lesson .
- Were they sleeping when I called?
- What were you doing at 8 AM yesterday?
- Weren't you walking out when the acciedent happened?
Important :
whenever you think of using the past continuous tense ,ask your self the question:"
Is it important to the sense that this activity went on continuously? Even this activity did go for along time in the past ,is this fact important to the sense??
Exercise:
Change the infinitives in brackets to either the simple past or past continuous tenses :
1- He ( spend ) three years in London when he was a young man.
2- While I ( learn) English I often ( confuse) the tenses.
3- What ( be) you doing at eight o'clock yesterday evening?
4- Our team ( win ) the championship last year.
5-He ( study ) when the light went out.
6- The doctor said that he ( be ) too sick to go out and that he ( need ) to stay home a couple of days.
7- When the visitors ( come ) ,he ( read ) the newspaper.
8- What were you doing when I ( call ) you yesterday morning?
Thank you for reading
- Hala-
Replies
PERFECT! You're a very good student, Ha! Keep it up.........
Good afternoon dear teacher Hala, this is my home work.. :)
1- He spent three years in London when he was a young man.
2- While I was learning English I often confused the tenses.
3- What were you doing at eight o'clock yesterday evening?
4- Our team won the championship last year.
5-He was studying when the light went out.
6- The doctor said that he was too sick to go out and that he needed to stay home a couple of days.
7- When the visitors came ,he was reading the newspaper.
8- What were you doing when I called you yesterday morning?
THAT WAS GREAT, Dinushi..............you got a perfect score!
Here are the responses teacher Hala:
1- He SPENT three years in London when he was a young man.
2 - While I WAS LEARNING English I often CONFUSED the tenses
3 - What WERE you doing at eight o`clock yesterday evening?
4 - Our team WON the championship last year.
5 - He WAS STUDYING when the light went out.
6 - The doctor said that he WAS too sick to go out and that he NEEDED to stay home a couple of days.
7 - When the visitors CAME, he WAS READING the newspaper.
8 - What were you doing when I CALLED you yesterday morning?
* Waiting for comments
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! You didn't miss a thing, Daniel..............see you next time!
Good afternoon,
It is good to brush up.
1- spent 2- was learning - confused 3- were 4- won 5-was studying 6- was- needed 7-came- was reading 8- called
VERY GOOD............Way to go, Learner!
hi dear teacher Hala ♥ :)
Exercise:
Change the infinitives in brackets to either the simple past or past continuous tenses :
1- He ( spent ♥) three years in London when he was a young man.
2- While I ( was learning ♥) English I often ( confused ♥) the tenses.
3- What ( Were ♥) you doing at eight o'clock yesterday evening?
4- Our team ( won ♥) the championship last year.
5-He ( was studying ) when the light went out.
6- The doctor said that he ( was ♥ ) too sick to go out and that he ( needed ♥) to stay home a couple of days.
7- When the visitors ( came ♥ ) ,he ( was reading ♥ ) the newspaper.
8- What were you doing when I ( called ♥) you yesterday morning?
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥have nice day dear teacher ^_* ♥ ♥ ♥
YOU GOT IT, Bluerose..............Congratulations! See you next time!
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