grammar rules
simple vs continuous
simple vs continuous
when do we use past simple
a) he waited while she was closing the door.
b) he was waiting while she closed the door.
b
Jake looked outside. It was grey bat it
didn't rain/wasn't raining.
Jake looked outside. It was grey bat it wasn't raining.
set
set, set
I saw her just yesterday?
When did you see her?
we use this tense to speak about an activity that lasted for some time in the past
when do we use past continuous
a) When I arrived at the hotel, my brother was already talking with the manager to check in to our room.
b) When i arrived at the hotel, my brother already talked with the manager to check in to our room.
a
She didn't hear the doorbell because she had/was having a shower.
She didn't hear the doorbell because was having a shower.
sink
sank, sunk
I went there with Anna and Peter.
Who did you go with?
we use this combination of tenses when we want to descripe a longer past action which was interrupted by a shorter one.
when do we use past continuous and past simple in one sentence?
a) I saw Maja as I was cycling to the sports centre.
b) I was seeing Maja as I was cycling to the sports centre.
a
You didn't answer when I called you yesterday.
What did you do?/ What were you doing?
What were you doing?
read
read, read
I chose this school because I love Music.
Why did you choose this school?
we use this tense twice when we talk about two long actions, which were taking place at the same time.
when do we use past continuous?
a) I hurted my finger while i was playing the guitar.
b) I was playing the guitar when I hurt my finger.
b
When i told my friends about the robber, they
didn't believe/ weren't believing me.
When i told my friends about the robber, they
didn't believe me.
think
thought, thought
We are training for the National Extreme Sports Competition.
Why are you training for?
we use this tense twice, when we speak about two or more short actions, that were taking place in a sequence.
when do we use past simple?
a) She dropped her new phone when she put it into her pocket.
b) She dropped her new phone while she was putting it into her pocket.
c)She was dropping her new phone while she was putting it into her pocket.
b
Lucy switched off her computer, put on/ was putting on her coat and left/ was leaving the office.
Lucy switched off her computer, put on her coat and left the office.
throw
threw, thrown
She closed the window because some children were making too much noise.
Why did she close the window?
Why would she close the window?