We use the past simple to talk about finished actions in the past, often with a definite time, or to talk about a series of finished actions.
We use the past continuous to talk about actions in progress at a moment in the past.
We use the past continuous and the past simple together when we describe an action that was in progress when another action interrupted it.
We also use the past continuous and the past simple together in narratives. We use the past continuous to describe scenes and the past simple to describe events.
Past simple
Affirmative and negative
I/You/He/She/We/They | arrived didn't arrive |
yesterday. |
Question
Did | I/you/he/she/we/they | arrive | yesterday? |
Past continuous
Affirmative and negative
You/We/They | were (not) | watching. |
I/He/She | was (not) |
Question
Were | you/we/the | watching? |
Was | I/he/she |
1. Past simple and past continuous.
Order the words to complete these sentences from fables (stories) about animals. The beginnings of the sentences have been done for you.
2. Grammar rules.
Look at the sentences in the previous exercise. Choose the correct answer to complete the grammar rules below.
For more information about the past simple see the Grammar Reference.
For more information about the past continuous see the Grammar Reference.