Verb –ed (regular +

+ verbs) +
+
Verb –ing
was / were
+ 2nd column (irregular
verbs)

- -
+ didn’t + wasn’t / weren’t
+ Verb + Verb –ing

? Did + ? Was / Were

+
+ Simple is used:
Verb ? + Verb
The Past –ing ? is used:
Continuous
The Past
for an action which started and finished at for an action which was happening at a
a specific time in the past. The time is specific time in the past.
mentioned or can be easily understood. John was listening to music at
I played football yesterday. 9:00p.m. yesterday.

for repeated or habitual actions in the for an action which was happening in the
past. past when another one interrupted it. We
He travelled a lot when he was use the Past Continuous for the longer
younger. action and the Past Simple for the shorter
action. In this case we use while or when.
for actions which happened one after the While she was studying, she heard a
other in the past= a SEQUENCE strange noise. or She was studying
George got up very early yesterday. when she heard a strange noise.
He had breakfast, got dressed and left
for two or more action that were
for work.
happening at the same time in the past.
In this case we usually use while:
for states that relate to the past.
While I was sleeping, my mother was
We lived in that house five years ago.
doing the housework.

at the beginning of a story to describe the

scene, before we start the narrative.
It was a beautiful morning, the sun
was shining and the birds were
singing.

Time expressions used with past Simple:

two days / weeks / months / years ago

yesterday, the day before yesterday
yesterday morning / afternoon / evening
last night / Monday / week / month / year… Time expressions used with past Continuous:
in 2006, in January, on Sunday
as / while
on 25th May, on that day
all day / night / evening…
at six o’clock
at eleven o’clock
at that time, at the time

Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or the Past Continuous or the verbs in brackets.
 1. Simon ______________ (watch) the match when the TV ______________ (break down).
2. __________ they __________ (play) cards at 10 o’clock yesterday?
3. Paula ______________ (forget) to phone Sam on his birthday.
4. I ______________ (clean) the house while my husband ______________ (work) in the garden.
5. What __________ you __________ (talk) about when I ______________ (come) in?
6. Yesterday I ______________ (see) Margaret at the supermarket, but I ______________ (not speak) with
her.
7. At nine o’clock yesterday morning, the plane ______________ (fly) to London from Paris.
8. Paul ______________ (be) ill last Sunday, so he ______________ (miss) the football match.
9. While Tom and Sally ______________ (go) home, they ______________ (meet) Jane.
10. Last night we ______________ (watch) a film on TV, but it was so boring that I ______________ (fall)
asleep.
11. They ______________ (not sleep) at four o’clock in the afternoon.
12. I ______________ (eat) my lunch when the doorbell ______________ (ring).
13. While Charles ______________ (close) the door, he ______________ (realise) that he had no keys.
14. David ______________ (exercise) all evening yesterday.
15. We ______________ (buy) this perfume while we ______________ (stay) in Paris.
16. What time __________ you __________ (arrive) home last night?
17. Sally ______________ (ride) her bicycle when she ______________ (have) the accident.
18. __________ Alex __________ (get) many presents on Christmas Day?
19. While Diana ______________ (build) a sandcastle, her brothers ______________ (swim) in the sea.
20. Debbie ______________ (sing) in the school choir many years ago.
21. Laura ______________ (trip) on the pavement while she ______________ (run).
22. I ______________ (drink) a glass of milk every day when I was a child.
23. __________ it __________ (rain) at seven o’clock this morning?
24. While Lucy ______________ (wash) the glass, she ______________ (cut) herfinger.

Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Past Continuous.

The Davidson family ______________ (be) at the airport two days ago. They ______________ (wait) for their
flight. The plane ______________ (take off) at 6:30 p.m. but the Davidson family ______________ (not be)
on the plane. They ______________ (miss) it! What __________ the family __________ (do) when the plane
______________ (take off)?
Mr Davidson ______________ (talk) to another man in the lounge while Mrs Davidson ______________
(chase) Billy around the sofas. That’s why they ______________ (not hear) the announcement. Simon
______________ (read) a magazine and he ______________ (listen) to his Walkman. Mandy ______________
(buy) a bottle of perfume at the duty free shop. Nobody ______________ (hear) the announcement for
their flight, so they ______________ (miss) the plane for New York.

PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS

1. He _______________ (HANG) out his washing when it __________ (START) to rain.
2. I _______________ (SWIM) in the sea when I ________________ (SEE) a shark.
3. Sue _____________ (WALK) along the road when she ___________ (MEET) Jim.
4. We _____________ (WATCH) television when the phone ____________ (RING).
5. When I ____________(ARRIVE) at the office, Jane and Paul _______________ (WORK) at their desks.
6. Tom _____________ (LOOK) out of the window when the accident ___________ (HAPPEN).
7. When I ____________ (SEE) Kate this morning she _____________ (WAIT) for the bus.
8. I _____________ (STAND) at the bus stop when I _____________ (MEET) Dave.
9. Mr Atkins ____________ (DRIVE) his car when a child __________(RUN) across the road.
10. My father ______________ (CUT) himself when he ________________ (SHAVE).
11. I ______________ (BREAK) a tooth when I _______________ (EAT) a sandwich.
12. When I ____________ (OPEN) the door, a friend _____________ (STAND) there.
13. The footballer _____________ (RUN) towards the goal when he _____________ (FALL) over.
14. While we _______________ (SURF) the Net, we_______________ (FIND) a website about cartoons.
15. When Paul and Andy ______________ (HEAR) a sound, they ___________ (SING).
16. I ____________ (PLAY) the piano while my brothers _________________ (FIGHT).