The Simple Past and Past Continuous tenses are among the most commonly used tenses in English. However, many learners still struggle to fully understand their usage and the key differences, especially since both refer to actions that happened in the past.
To help you apply these tenses correctly and avoid common mistakes, the following guide provides detailed explanations and user-friendly exercises to help you distinguish between the Simple Past and Past Continuous tenses.
1. Overview of the Simple Past and Past Continuous Tenses
Definitions
Simple Past Tense
The Simple Past tense is used to describe an action that happened and was completed in the past. It can also refer to events that have just finished.
Examples:
She went to school yesterday.
I finished my work yesterday.
Past Continuous Tense
The Past Continuous tense is used to describe an action that was ongoing at a specific time in the past. It emphasizes the duration or continuity of the action.
Examples:
They were just talking about it before I arrived.
At 9 am yesterday, I was calling my mom.
2. Grammar Structures of the Simple Past and Past Continuous Tenses
Sentence Type | Simple Past Structure | Past Continuous Structure |
Affirmative | S + V2 / Ved | S + was/were + V-ing |
Example | She visited her uncle last week. | We were working in a big town in 2010. |
Negative | S + did not + base verb | S + was/were + not + V-ing |
Example | He did not go to school yesterday. | I was not joking. |
Yes/No Questions | Did + S + base verb ? | Was/Were + S + V-ing ? |
Example | Did she enjoy the trip? | Was he playing badminton at 7 pm? |
WH- Questions | What/When/Why + did + S + base verb ? | What/When/Why + was/were + S + V-ing ? |
Example | Why did she cry? | What were you doing at 8 am yesterday? |
3. Time Expressions Used with Each Tense
Tense | Common Time Expressions |
Simple Past | yesterday, ago, last (week/month/year), in the past, the day before, earlier today |
Past Continuous | at 9 am, at that time, yesterday, while, when, last night |
4. Usage of the Simple Past Tense
Usage | Example |
Completed action in the past | World War II ended in 1945. |
Repeated past action | When I was a child, I always read comics. |
Action interrupting an ongoing action | The kids were playing when their mom came home. |
Sequence of past actions | She saw me, then cried and shouted. |
Unreal wish | I wished I owned a villa. |
Conditional sentence type 2 | If she had a car, she would drive it everywhere. |
5. Usage of the Past Continuous Tense
Usage | Example |
Action ongoing at a specific past time | At 9 am yesterday, she was teaching. |
Two actions happening at the same time | She was cooking while her daughter was watching TV. |
Interrupted ongoing action | She was scrolling her phone when Alicia burst into tears. |
Repeated past action with negative tone | He was always making noise when I was reading. |
6. Simple Past Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Rewrite the sentences using the correct past form.
It / be / rainy / last night → It was rainy last night.
In 1999 / they / move / to another city → In 1999, they moved to another city.
My mother / not / go / to the pagoda / a month ago → My mother did not go to the pagoda a month ago.
How / your father / get there? → How did your father get there?
My grandmother / make / three / cake / a / day / ago → My grandmother made three cakes a day ago.
Exercise 2: Fill in the correct verb forms.
My elder sister got married last year.
Dan came to his grandfather’s house 3 days ago.
My PC was broken last night.
My boyfriend bought me a teddy bear last month.
We weren’t interested in the film yesterday.
Exercise 3: Change the following sentences into questions.
Did Hoa go to the cinema with her boyfriend last night?
Did your grandmother go to the market last week?
Did Ten send his boss an apology letter yesterday?
Did Sammy buy a new computer last month?
Did she walk to school?
Did your boyfriend give you a bouquet of roses?
7. Past Continuous Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the correct verb forms.
She was calling Mr Lam at 8 last night, but he was not at home. He was studying at the library.
Linh did not hear the thunder because she was sleeping.
The sun was shining and the birds were singing.
They were talking when I walked into the bedroom.
Linda went to her friend’s house, but he was not there. He was playing soccer.
The boy fell asleep while his mom was reading a story.
While it was snowing in Malay, the sun was shining in Florida.
Mya was shoveling snow while her boyfriend was bringing her hot chocolate.
She had a car accident. She was driving when a lorry hit her.
The government decided to begin a food program as many people were starving.
Exercise 2: Find and correct the errors.
Sentence | Correction |
He was play badminton... | He was playing badminton... |
Was she study English... | Was she studying English... |
What was he do... | What was he doing... |
Where did you went... | Where did you go... |
He turn on the TV... | He turned on the TV... |
She got up and have breakfast... | She got up and had breakfast... |
Hoa didn't broke... | Hoa didn't break... |
My friend and I go to the beach... | My friend and I went to the beach... |
Conclusion
This article has provided a detailed explanation of the Simple Past and Past Continuous tenses along with essential practice exercises. We hope this guide helps you clearly distinguish between the two tenses and use them with confidence. Remember to master the basics such as structure, usage, and identifying time markers to improve your English grammar skills effectively.
4. Bài tập làm quen với thì Quá khứ tiếp diễn
Exercise 1: Chia động từ theo dạng đúng để hoàn thành câu.
1. She ………………. (call) Mr Lam at 8 last night, but he (not be) ………………. at home. He (study) ………………. at the library.
2. Linh ………………. (not hear) the thunder during the storm last night because she ………………. (sleep)
3. It was beautiful last Monday when I went for a walk in the park. The sun ………………. (shine). The birds ………………. (sing)
4. They ………………. (talk) about something when I………………. (walk) into the bedroom.
5. Linda went to her friends ‘house, but her friend ………………. (not be) there. He (play) ………………. soccer in the vacant lot down the street.
6. The boy ………………. (fall) asleep while his mom ………………. (read) him a story.
7. She really enjoyed my holiday last year. While it ………………. (snow) in Malay, the sun ………………. (shine) in Florida.
8. While Mya ………………. (shovel) snow from her driveway yesterday, her boyfriend ………………. (bring) her a cup of hot chocolate.
9. She ………………. (have) a car accident last month. She ………………. (drive) down the street when suddenly a lorry ………………. (hit) her car from behind.
10. 5 years ago, the government ………………. (decide) to begin a food programme. At that time, many people in the rural areas ………………. (starve) due to several years of drought.
Exercise 2: Tìm và sửa lỗi trong các câu dưới đây
1. He was play badminton when I called him.
2. Was she study English at 8 p.m. yesterday?
3. What was he do while his mother was making lunch?
4. Where did you went last Monday?
5. He turn on the TV, but nothing happened.
6. She got up early and have breakfast with her family yesterday morning.
7. Hoa didn't broke the flower vase. I did.
8. Last weekend, my friend and I go to the beach on the bus.
Đáp án
Exercise 1: Chia động từ theo dạng đúng để hoàn thành câu.
1. was calling - wasn't - was studying
|
Exercise 2: Tìm và sửa lỗi trong các câu dưới đây
Câu | Sửa lỗi |
|---|---|
1. He was play badminton when I called him. | He was playing badminton when I called him. |
2. Was she study English at 8 p.m. yesterday? | Was she studying English at 8 p.m. yesterday? |
3. What was he do while his mother was making lunch? | What was he doing while his mother was making lunch? |
4. Where did you went last Monday? | Where did you going last Monday? |
5. He turn on the TV, but nothing happened. | He was turning on the TV, but nothing happened. |
6. She got up early and have breakfast with her family yesterday morning. | She was getting up early and having breakfast with her family yesterday morning. |
7. Hoa didn't broke the flower vase. I did. | Hoa didn't breaking the flower vase. I did. |
8. Last weekend, my friend and I go to the beach on the bus. | Last weekend, my friend and I were going to the beach on the bus. |
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