Past continuous and Past simplePast continuous and Past simple

To talk about a temporary situation that To talk about a temporary situation that existed at or around a particular time existed at or around a particular time

in the past, we can use the past in the past, we can use the past continuous.continuous.

For example:For example:

At the time of the robbery, they At the time of the robbery, they werewere stayingstaying with my parents. with my parents.

My head My head waswas achingaching again, so I went. again, so I went.

Compare the use of the past Compare the use of the past continuous and the past simple continuous and the past simple

in the following sentences in the following sentences

She She was shakingwas shaking with anger as she left with anger as she left the hotel.the hotel.

When he realised I When he realised I was lookingwas looking at him, at him, he turned away.he turned away.

Sarah dropped her bag while she Sarah dropped her bag while she was was gettinggetting into her car. into her car.

We often use the past simple to talk We often use the past simple to talk about a completed past events and about a completed past events and the past continuous to describe the the past continuous to describe the

situation that existed at the time. The situation that existed at the time. The completed event might have completed event might have

interrupted the situation, or just interrupted the situation, or just occurred while the situation or event occurred while the situation or event

was in progress.was in progress.

However...However...

We don’t normally use the past continuous with We don’t normally use the past continuous with certain verbs describing states.certain verbs describing states.

This house This house belonged tobelonged to the King of Sweden the King of Sweden

When we talk about two past actions or When we talk about two past actions or events that went on over the same events that went on over the same period of time, we can often use the period of time, we can often use the past continuous for both.past continuous for both.

For example:For example:

Sally Sally was readingwas reading to the children while to the children while Kevin Kevin was washing up.was washing up.

Mario was working in a resturant when I Mario was working in a resturant when I was livingwas living in London. in London.

However...However...

We can often use the past simple to express We can often use the past simple to express a similar meaning:a similar meaning:

Mario Mario workedworked in a resturant while he in a resturant while he livedlived in London.in London.

When we talk about two or more past When we talk about two or more past completed events that follow each completed events that follow each other, we use the past simple for other, we use the past simple for both. both.

The first may have caused the second.The first may have caused the second.

For exampleFor example

She She got upgot up when the alarm clock when the alarm clock went offwent off..

He He jumped outjumped out of bed and of bed and ranran to see who the to see who the parcel was for.parcel was for.

When we talk about a When we talk about a permanentpermanent or long- or long-term situation that existed in the past, we term situation that existed in the past, we use the past simple rather than the past use the past simple rather than the past continuous.continuous.

When I was a child I played the violin.When I was a child I played the violin.

However, if the situation was However, if the situation was temporarytemporary, , we can also use the past continuous.we can also use the past continuous.

For exampleFor example

I I was workingwas working in a car factory during the in a car factory during the summer of 1976.summer of 1976.

(or I (or I workedworked....)....)

He He workedworked hard all his life. hard all his life.

We use the past simple rather than the We use the past simple rather than the past continuous when we are talking past continuous when we are talking about repeated actions or events in about repeated actions or events in the past.the past.

For exampleFor example

We We visitedvisited Spain three times last year. Spain three times last year.

I I wentwent past her house every day. past her house every day.

She slept very badly whenever she stayed She slept very badly whenever she stayed with her grandparents.with her grandparents.

Look at these sentences:Look at these sentences:

1.1. When his wife walked in, he dropped his When his wife walked in, he dropped his glass.glass.

2.2. When his wife walked in, he was When his wife walked in, he was dropping his glass.dropping his glass.

3.3. When his wife was walking in, he was When his wife was walking in, he was dropping his glass. dropping his glass.

4.4. When his wife was walking in, he When his wife was walking in, he dropped his glass.dropped his glass.

Which are correct?Which are correct?

past simple or past continuous?past simple or past continuous?

Now look at these two sentences:Now look at these two sentences:

A.A. She She lookedlooked away when I spoke to her. away when I spoke to her.

B.B. She She was lookingwas looking away when I spoke to away when I spoke to her.her.

In which one, A or B, do we get the idea In which one, A or B, do we get the idea that perhaps she was angry with me?that perhaps she was angry with me?

Think about it another way:Think about it another way:……she she lookedlooked away. away.……she she was lookingwas looking away. away.

Which action seems Which action seems quickerquicker??Looked awayLooked away..So if we want to suggest So if we want to suggest looked awaylooked away is a is a

quick actionquick action, because , because I spoke to herI spoke to her, , sentence sentence AA is better. is better.

In sentence In sentence B, was looking awayB, was looking away suggests suggests a a longer actionlonger action. Perhaps . Perhaps she was looking she was looking awayaway before before I spoke to herI spoke to her..

We use the past continuous to We use the past continuous to describe a longer action.describe a longer action.

I spoke to Tom yesterday.I spoke to Tom yesterday. I was speaking to Tom I was speaking to Tom yesterday.yesterday.

Now think about sentences 1 – 4 again.Now think about sentences 1 – 4 again.

1.1. When his wife walked in, he dropped his glass.When his wife walked in, he dropped his glass.

This one is most likely – she walked in and he drops the This one is most likely – she walked in and he drops the glass – two short actions.glass – two short actions.

2.2. When his wife walked in, he was dropping his glass.When his wife walked in, he was dropping his glass.

This is almost impossible. You can’t drop a glass slowly.This is almost impossible. You can’t drop a glass slowly.

3.3. When his wife was walking in, he was dropping his When his wife was walking in, he was dropping his glass.glass.

The same problem here.The same problem here.

4.4. When his wife was walking in, he dropped his glass.When his wife was walking in, he dropped his glass.

This is possible. She walks in more slowly and he drops This is possible. She walks in more slowly and he drops the glass. Maybe she just felt tired.the glass. Maybe she just felt tired.

Now decide which sentences are possibleNow decide which sentences are possible. In . In each pair, it might be one – or both. each pair, it might be one – or both.

a.a. While I was having a shower, the phone rang.While I was having a shower, the phone rang.

b.b. While I was having a shower, the phone was While I was having a shower, the phone was ringing.ringing.

c.c. While he was walking home in the storm, a While he was walking home in the storm, a tree fell down.tree fell down.

d.d. While he was walking home in the storm, a While he was walking home in the storm, a tree was falling down.tree was falling down.

e.e. When Mark saw Mary he was speaking to her.When Mark saw Mary he was speaking to her.

f.f. When Mark saw Mary he spoke to her.When Mark saw Mary he spoke to her.

a.a. While she was walking along the street, she While she was walking along the street, she was speaking to the baby.was speaking to the baby.

b.b. While she walked along the street, she was While she walked along the street, she was speaking to the baby.speaking to the baby.

c.c. When the car left the track, a wheel came off.When the car left the track, a wheel came off.

d.d. When the car was leaving the track, a wheel When the car was leaving the track, a wheel came off.came off.

e.e. While she was having lunch, the fire alarm was While she was having lunch, the fire alarm was ringing.ringing.

f.f. While she was having lunch, the fire alarm While she was having lunch, the fire alarm rang.rang.

when or while?when or while?

We often use while instead of when with the We often use while instead of when with the past continuous because it stresses that past continuous because it stresses that the action is longer. However, it is not the action is longer. However, it is not wrong to use when in sentences like this.wrong to use when in sentences like this.

When I was having a shower. (is possible)When I was having a shower. (is possible)

While I was having a shower. (is maybe While I was having a shower. (is maybe better)better)

Past continuous or past simple?Past continuous or past simple?1.1. While Ben ____(eat) his soup, the cat ___(jump) up on While Ben ____(eat) his soup, the cat ___(jump) up on

the table.the table.2.2. She ___(unpack) the shopping when I ___(get) home.She ___(unpack) the shopping when I ___(get) home.3.3. When Nick ___(arrive) at school, the pupils ___(leave).When Nick ___(arrive) at school, the pupils ___(leave).4.4. I ___(watch) TV while Joel ___(tell) her the news.I ___(watch) TV while Joel ___(tell) her the news.5.5. I ___(take) a photo when they ___(feed) the lions.I ___(take) a photo when they ___(feed) the lions.6.6. Mary ___(talk) to Ian when I ___(see) them.Mary ___(talk) to Ian when I ___(see) them.7.7. He ____(live) with his mother when they ____(get) He ____(live) with his mother when they ____(get)

married.married.8.8. Amy ____(have) a bath while Maggie ____(cook) the Amy ____(have) a bath while Maggie ____(cook) the

dinner.dinner.9.9. While Joe ___(work) in London, Kevin ____(travel).While Joe ___(work) in London, Kevin ____(travel).10.10. While I ____(talk) to the other driver, the police While I ____(talk) to the other driver, the police

____(turn up). ____(turn up).

Write the missing verbs in either the Write the missing verbs in either the past continuous or the past simplepast continuous or the past simple

I _____(walk) along Victoria Street last week and I I _____(walk) along Victoria Street last week and I ___(meet) Cheri – do you remember her? She ___(meet) Cheri – do you remember her? She ___(get) engaged to Sid Evesham last month. ___(get) engaged to Sid Evesham last month. Remember, he ____(work) at the hospital at the time.Remember, he ____(work) at the hospital at the time.

Anyway, we ____(go) for a cup of tea in the Café Anyway, we ____(go) for a cup of tea in the Café Royale. They have these delicious Danish pastries. Royale. They have these delicious Danish pastries. Well, we ____(eat) them when Annie Ross Well, we ____(eat) them when Annie Ross ____(walk) in. I haven’t seen her since she ___(leave) ____(walk) in. I haven’t seen her since she ___(leave) for Australia. Anyway, it seems she ___(not get) there for Australia. Anyway, it seems she ___(not get) there because while she ___(travel) through Malaysia she because while she ___(travel) through Malaysia she ___(meet) an English guy called Chris and they ___(meet) an English guy called Chris and they ____(fall) in love. He ____(have to) come back here ____(fall) in love. He ____(have to) come back here because he was only on holiday ….because he was only on holiday ….

…….so she ___(come) back with him. Anyway, she .so she ___(come) back with him. Anyway, she ___(talk) about Chris and I suddenly ___(talk) about Chris and I suddenly ____(realise) that it was the same Chris who ____(realise) that it was the same Chris who ____(break off) with Cheri six months ago. ____(break off) with Cheri six months ago. Cheri ____(realise) this too, and she ____(get Cheri ____(realise) this too, and she ____(get up) and ____(leave). She ____(not finish) her up) and ____(leave). She ____(not finish) her Danish pastry – I ____(still eat) mine at the Danish pastry – I ____(still eat) mine at the time. So I ___(finish) hers as well. Annie time. So I ___(finish) hers as well. Annie ____(still talk) – she ____(not notice) that Cheri ____(still talk) – she ____(not notice) that Cheri was upset – so we ___(go) and ____(have) was upset – so we ___(go) and ____(have) lunch together. Interesting morning – well, sort lunch together. Interesting morning – well, sort of. of.

Put the verbs into the correct Put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or past form, past continuous or past

simple.simple.

1.1. I ___(see) Keith in town yesterday but he I ___(see) Keith in town yesterday but he ___(not/see) me. He ___(look) the other way.___(not/see) me. He ___(look) the other way.

2.2. I ___(meet) Joe and Sarah at the airport a few I ___(meet) Joe and Sarah at the airport a few weeks ago. They ___(go) to Madrid. We weeks ago. They ___(go) to Madrid. We ___(have) a chat while we ___(wait) for our ___(have) a chat while we ___(wait) for our flights.flights.

3.3. I ___(cycle) home yesterday when suddenly a I ___(cycle) home yesterday when suddenly a man ___(step) out into the road in front of me. man ___(step) out into the road in front of me. I ___(go) quite fast but luckily I ___(manage) I ___(go) quite fast but luckily I ___(manage) to stop in time and ___(not/hit) him.to stop in time and ___(not/hit) him.