2º ESO Unit 2 Grammar: Past simple and continuous

UNIT 2 GRAMMAR

Past simple & Past continuous

Past simple

Past simple

We use the past simple to talk about finished actions in the past. Examples: -Yesterday, my team lost the match. -We had a very good mark at the exam. -Emily didn't come to the party last weekend.

Past continuous

We use the past continuous to talk about what was happening at a particular moment in the past.Examples: -At 10 o'clock yesterday I was slepping. -At this time I was having lunch with some friends.

Both tenses in the same setence

We use both tenses in the same sentence to talk about a long action that was in progress (past continuous), which was interrupted by a punctual action (past simple).

Past continuous

Past simple

Actions that were in progress

Finished actions

Long action that is interrupted

An action that interrupts at a certain moment.

VS

Past expressions: yesterday, last week, month, year...

Expressions referring to a prticular time or moment in the past: At ten o'clock this morning; yesterday afternoon...

A long action is interrupted

...it started to rain...

I was doing my homework

... the phone rang...

When & while

When + past simpleWhile + past continuous Examples: When you called, I was watching TV. I was watching TV when you called. While I was studying, you left. You left while I was studying.

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