Past Simple or Past Continuous & Present Perfect or Past Simple?

Past Simple or Past Continuous?

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Solution

David started his new job last month.

The firefighters got dressed.

The chef was cooking in the kitchen when he injured his hand.

The firefighters climbed into the fire engine.

Simon was working on his laptop while his colleagues were chatting.

Neil Armstrong was a famous astronaut.

I was listening to music while my brothers were watching a film.

She cycled everywhere during her childhood.

Ben worked part-time last summer.

Simon lived in the USA for almost a decade.

Past Continuous

Past Simple

Past Simple or Past Continuous?

Solution

Form:regular verbs += -edirregular verbs = learn one by one.

For finished (completed) at stated time in the past.

For past actions happening one after another.

Form: was / were + gerund**verbs += -ing

For actions in progress (not completed) at a stated time in the past.

Short answers: Yes, (subject) was / were. No, (subject) wasn't / weren't.

Short answers: Yes, (subject) did. No, (subject) didn't.

For people who are no longer alive.

For two or more past actions happening simultaneously.

For past actions in progress when other actions interrupted them.

For past habits or states.

Past Continuous

Past Simple

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present Perfect or Past Simple?

Drag each example to the correct box

Solution

She has started a new job.

Lee has played tennis for a year.

Kate graduated from university last week.

He has missed the bus, so he is late for work.

Greg studied French for two years.

He started his company in 2017.

They have had a meeting with an important client.

Ian has wanted to be an athlete since he was young.

Simon lived in the USA for almost a decade.

Jen flew to Paris for work yesterday.

Past Simple

Present Perfect

present Perfect or Past Simple?

For finished actions (completed) at a stated time in the past.

Solution

Form:regular verbs += -edirregular verbs = learn one by one.

For actions which happened at an unstated time in the past.

Form: have / has + past participle**regular verbs += -ed *irregular verbs = learn one by one.

For people who are no longer alive.

For actions which started and finished in the past.

For actions which started in the past and still continue

Short answers: Yes, (subject) have / has. No, (subject) haven't / hasn't.

Short answers: Yes, (subject) did. No, (subject) didn't.

For actions that won't happen again.

Past Simple

Present Perfect

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