Past simple v.S. Past Continuous

Past simple V.S. PastContinuous

Grammar Focus

What's the difference between them?

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Past simple

Past continuous

Let's learn English

The Past Simple is used to describe:

- actions or events which happened one after another:

- completed actions or events in the past:

I saw the Pyramids, then I went to the Cairo Museum and later I went to a traditiional restaurant

I visited Egypt last year

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Formation

Affirmative sentences

Jane did an exam yesterday. Subject + verb in past

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Negative sentences

They didn't go to the cinema last week. Subject + didn't + infinitive

Interrogative sentences

Did you visit New York last year?. Did + subject + infinitive ?

The Past Continuous is used to describe:

- to talk about things happening at the same time :

- actions that were in progress over a period of time in the past:

The guide was explaining the tour while people were looking out of the window

I was taking a photo when my mobile phone rang

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Formation

Affirmative sentences

I was reading a book last night. Subject + was / were + ing

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Negative sentences

They weren't listening to music. Subject + wasn't / weren't + ing

Interrogative sentences

Were you watching TV yesterday at 6 pm?Was / were + subject + ing ?

practice !!

Did you know that ...?

We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to show that an action happpened in the middle of an activity.

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Look at the examples,

- While Martin was walking to the school, he met a friend.- I was looking through the window when it started raining.

play the video and ...

Enjoy learning English !

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