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Simple Past vs. Past Progressive

The document summarizes the differences between the simple past and past progressive tenses in English. It discusses their forms, uses, and certain verbs that are usually only used in simple past. The simple past is used to express actions that happened one after another or were just mentioned. The past progressive emphasizes that an action was in progress at a specific time in the past or while another action occurred. It provides examples to illustrate when each tense would be used.

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Dard Tong
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141 views2 pages

Simple Past vs. Past Progressive

The document summarizes the differences between the simple past and past progressive tenses in English. It discusses their forms, uses, and certain verbs that are usually only used in simple past. The simple past is used to express actions that happened one after another or were just mentioned. The past progressive emphasizes that an action was in progress at a specific time in the past or while another action occurred. It provides examples to illustrate when each tense would be used.

Uploaded by

Dard Tong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple Past – Past Progressive

Form

Simple Past Past Progressive

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
I spoke
regular verbs: verb + ed I was speaking
you were speaking
I worked
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
when the final letter is e, only add d. silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: love - loved Example: come - coming
after a short, stressed vowel, the final but: agree - agreeing
consonant is doubled after a short, stressed vowel, the final
Example: admit - admitted consonant is doubled

final l is always doubled in British English (not Example: sit - sitting
in American English) final l is always doubled in British English (not
Example: travel - travelled in American English)

after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not Example: travel - travelling
after a vowel) final ie becomes y.
Example: worry - he worried Example: lie - lying
but: play - he played

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

after another at the same time

She came home, switched on the computer and Simon was playing on the computer while his
checked her e-mails. brother was watching TV.

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.

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Simple Past Past Progressive

new action action already in progress

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

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.

Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).
state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We were on holiday.

possession: belong, have
Example: Sam had a cat.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He felt the cold.

feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loved pizza.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I did not understand him.

introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he said.

Signal words

Simple Past Past Progressive

first while
then as long as
If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)

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