The document discusses the past simple and past continuous tenses in English. It provides examples of how each is formed and the main uses of each tense. The past simple is formed with an -ed ending while the past continuous uses an -ing ending. The past simple is used to describe completed actions while the past continuous describes ongoing actions happening at the same time. Certain verbs like state of being, possession, senses and feelings are usually only used in the past simple, not continuous form. Time expressions are also provided to demonstrate when each tense is typically used.
2. Form Past simple: I worked I didn’t work Did you work? -edspelling: Loved, stopped, planned, studied, played Past continuous: I was working I wasn’t working Were you working? -ingspelling: Dancing, planning, studying, playing, lying (lie)
3. Use 1: Used separately Two long actions happen at the same time. She was doing her homework while her brother was playing on the computer. One short action happens after another. She knockedon the door and came in.
4. Use 2: Both tenses together Past simple: new action that interrupts another action Past continuous: an action already in progress. While I was sitting in a meeting my mobile suddenly rang.
5. Use 3: Emphasis on time Past Continuous: to emphasize progress and that an action was taking place at a specific time. We were watching TV at eight this morning. Past Simple: just to mention something that happened in the past. We went to the movies last Sunday.
6. The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).-state: be, cost, fit, mean (They were on holiday.)-possession: belong, have (I had a cat.)-senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch (He felt the cold.)-feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, want (I loved pizza)-brain work: believe, know, understand (I didn’t understand) They had a dog.
7. Time expressions I was going down when I fell off the stairs. While we were shopping Susan was talking on the phone. We were having dinner when the bell rang. While she was washing the dishes, he was ironing.