1ESOPast Simple vs. Past Continuous

PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

At 10p.m. last night I was chatting to Ann.

I chatted to Ann last night.

TASK 1

Look at the two sentences. Describe the differences between them. Identify the tenses.

At 11:30a.m I .____ (eat) a toast.

Past Continuous

Action in progress at a specific time in the past

Completed action in the past

Past Simple

USAGE

Analyse the differences between the Past Simple and the Past Continuous and fill in the gaps with the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets.

Ann _____ (move) to Rome two years ago.

While we ____ (pack) our clothes for the trip, Bob ___(make) sandwiches.

Past Continuous

Two or more unfinished actions in progress at the same time in the past

Sequence of actions in the past (one after another)

Past Simple

USAGE

Analyse the differences between the Past Simple and the Past Continuous and fill in the gaps with the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets.

He ____ (buy), ___(wrap) it and ___(give) it to her.

It was early in the morning. Dad __(read) the newspaper and I __(get) dressed.

Past Continuous

To give the background information in a story

To describe the main event in a story

Past Simple

USAGE

Analyse the differences between the Past Simple and the Past Continuous and fill in the gaps with the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets.

William __(get) in the car and ___(drive) to town. Suddenly he ___(realise) something __ (be) wrong.

She ____(walk) to school when she ___ (see) Julie.

Past Continuous

Unfinished action in progress interrupted by a shorter action

Past routines or habits

Past Simple

USAGE

Analyse the differences between the Past Simple and the Past Continuous and fill in the gaps with the appropriate form of the verbs in brackets.

Gran _____ (read) stories to me when I _____(be) younger.

ONLY WITH "past SIMPLE"

Write down the time expressions that are used in the Past Simple and the Past Continuous.

Past Continuous

Past Simple

TIME EXPRESSIONS

How do we form the Past Simple and the Past Continuous?

Past Continuous

Past Simple

STRUCTURE

TASK 2

LET'S PLAY!

ANY QUESTIONS?

Used to Would

For habits in the past (= Past Simple): I used to take the bus to school. NEVER use it for actions that happened only once.

USED TO = Solía

For habits in the past (= Used to): I would take the bus to school. DON'T use it with negative and interrogative to talk about habits. DON'T use it with stative verbs to talk about habits. Often used to tell stories. WOULD + INFINITIVE I/you/he/she/it/we/you/they would go to school by bus.

Would = solía

ANY QUESTIONS?

Affirmative sentences: I/you/we/they bought candies last week. He/she/it bought candies last week. Remember: second column of your verbs list! Negative sentences: I/you/we/they didn't buy candies last week. He/she/it didn't buy candies last week. Questions: Did I/you/we/they buy candies last week? Did he/she/it buy candies last week?

Affirmative sentences: I was playing football at that moment. You/we/they were playing football at that moment. He/she/it was playing football at that moment. Negative sentences: I wasn't playing football at that moment. You/we/they weren't playing football at that moment. He/she/it wasn't playing football at that moment. Questions: Was I playing football at that moment? Were you/we/they playing football at that moment? Was he/she/it playing football at that moment?