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Past Simple or Continuous

PAST SIMPLE

FORM : [VERB] + ed  OR  Irregular Verbs

USE 1: Events in the past that are now finished

Examples:

• She washed her hands.
• Last year, I travelled to Japan.
• I slept well last night

USE 2: Situation in the past

Examples:

• I lived in India for 6 years (I don't live there anymore).
• He talked on the phone for ten minutes (He didn't talk anymore).

USE 3: A series of actions in the past

Examples:

• He entered in classroom, smiled and started to teach the lesson.
• He arrived from the airport at 9:00, checked into the hotel at 10:00, and met the others at 11:00.

PAST CONTINUOUS

FORM : [WAS / WERE] + Present Participle

USE 1: Actions in progress (in the past)

Examples:

• I was listening  to music yesterday in the evening.
• She was not driving the car.

USE 2: Interrupted actions in progress (in the past)

• John was waiting for us when we got off the boat.
• When the phone rang, she was washing her hair.

USE 3: Actions in progress at the same time (in the past) - Parallel Actions

• You were listening while he was teaching.
• I was reading a book and Sarah was reading a newspaper.

USE 4: Repetition and Irritation with 'Always'

• He was always coming late to class.
• I was reading a book and Sarah was reading a newspaper.

Choose the right answer!

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1. The children (play) when their father came home.

2. James (take) a taxi to his hotel.

3. He (see /not) the red light yesterday.

4. Mary came to see me while I (do) my homework.

5. He (tell) me to go home and rest.

6. The old woman (be) trapped on the third floor when the fire engine arrived.

7. She (listen) to the radio when the mail came.

8. I dropped one glass while I (wash) the dishes.

9. While the movie was playing, Tom (eat) popcorn.

10. I (wake) up very early this morning.