Past Simple
I ... (study) for an exam.
I studied for an exam.
I (study) for an exam all night.
I was studying for an exam all night.
Julie (cook) dinner. Let's go and eat!
Julie has cooked dinner. Let's go and eat!
He (sleep) all day.
He has been sleeping all day.
I was travelling in Spain when I (lose) my passport.
I was travelling in Spain when I lost my passport.
He ... (climb) a mountain when the storm began.
He was climbing a mountain when the storm began.
(they/arrive) already?
Have they arrived already?
It (rain) for three hours!
It has been raining for three hours!
What were you doing when the telephone ... (ring)?
What were you doing when the telephone rang?
While I ... (do) the gardening, she read the newspaper.
While I was doing the gardening, she read the newspaper.
How long (you/know) Simon?
How long have you known Simon?
I (paint) my house all day, but it's not finished yet.
I have been painting my house all day, but it's not finished yet.
Do we use "when" or "while" with the Past Simple?
when
Do we use "when" or "while" with the Past Continuous?
while
How many times (you/take) this exam?
How many times have you taken this exam?
She (work) at the office since 6am.
She has been working at the office since 6am.
We use the Past Simple to ...
talk about the shorter action.
We use the Past Continuous to ...
talk about a longer action that was going on in the past.
We use the Present Perfect Simple to ...
emphasise the completion of an event in the recent past.
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to ...
talk about ongoing events or activities that started in the past and are continuing up until now.