Past Simple and Past Continuous

1 Past Simple

Function Positive formNegative

formQuestion

form1 We use the Past simple for states and actions which happened in the past. We often say when the action happened.I saw someone famous yesterday.

2 The action can be short or long, single or repeated.I dropped the glass and it broke on the floor.He took the train to work every day.

3 We also use the Past simple to talk about states in the past.When I was young, I loved playing with my toys.

I / you / he / she / it / we / they

worked

I / you / he / she / it / we / they

didn’t (did not) work

Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they work?

I / you / he / she / it / we / they left

I / you / he / she / it / we / they

didn’t (did not) leave

Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they leave?

Regular verbs: base form + -edirregular verbs:

see list of irregular verbs on page 155

Regular andirregular verbs:subject+ didn't (did not) +base

form

Regular and Irregular verbs:

did+ subject+ base form

From New Cutting Edge Intermediate (p.145)

2 Past Continuous

Function Positive form

Negative form

Question form

1 We use the Past Continuous for actions in progress at a time in the past.I was living in London then.

Sometimes this includes a specific time or another (completed past action).We were having breakfast at eight o'clock.I heard the news on the radio while I was driving home.

2 The Past continuous often describes the situation or the background to a story. We use the Past simple for the main events.The sun was shining and I was walking along the road. Suddenly someone shouted to me ...

3 Sometimes the Past continuous action is interrupted.They were talking about me when I walked in the room. (=they stopped talking)

4 We use the Past continuous for actions we see as incomplete.I read a book about Italy. (= I read it all)I was reading a book about Italy on the plane. (= I probably didn't read it all)

I / he / she / it was working

I / he / she / it wasn’t

working

Was I / he / she / it

working?

you / we / they were

working

you / we / they weren’t

(were not) working

Were you / we / they working?

From New Cutting Edge Intermediate (p.145)