Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

Differences between

Past Simple & Past Continuous

Solution

Solution

PAST SIMPLE

PAST CONTINUOUS

suddenly

in the meanwhile

while

when

I watched

I was watching

Differences between

Past Simple & Past Continuous

PAST SIMPLE

PAST CONTINUOUS

while

suddenly

suddenly

when

when

in the meanwhile

in the meanwhile

I watched

I was watching

I was watching

I watched

PAST SIMPLE

PAST CONTINUOUS

Claire had a very productive day:

At the backstage, everybody was working hard:

While the actors & actresses were acting, the dancers were dancing and the singers were singing.

While

were

went

She went to school. Claire learnt a new verb tense. She had lunch with her family. She did homework and met friends.

were dancing

acting

learnt

had

were singing

did

met

PAST SIMPLE versus PAST CONTINUOUS

While he was having a shower someone rang the doorbell.

rang

was having

While

They were watching a film when someone knocked on the door.

were watching

knocked

when

PAST CONTINUOUS versus PAST SIMPLE

PAST CONTINUOUS

PAST SIMPLE

While

While he was having a shower someone rang the doorbell.

rang

was having

rang

was having

Someone rang the doorbell while he was having a shower.

were watching

They were watching a film when someone knocked on the door.

knocked

when

while

Someone knocked on the door while they were watching a film.

were watching

knocked

Student's Book page 8 exercises 4 5 & 6