Learn English Grammar – the past simple v the past continuous
Both the past simple and the past continuous refer to completed actions in the past.
Most of the time when we are talking about such actions, we use the past simple. This is by far the most common way about talking about the past.
- I lived there for 6 years.
- I only found out a few moments ago.
- I asked her but she didn’t know anything.
- The company made 100 people redundant last year.
Only use the past continuous when you want to emphasize the continuity of the action.
- Everybody was talking about it all evening.
- They were really trying hard but couldn’t do it.
- I was thinking about you the other day.
- Were you expecting that to happen?
When we use these two forms in the same sentence, we use the past continuous to talk about the “background action” and the past simple to talk about the shorter completed action.
- It was raining hard when we left the building.
- I was reading the report when you rang.
- He was going out to lunch when I saw him.
- The company was doing well when I last visited it.
6 Comments
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Mila
Sep 9, 2010, 3:29 pmThanks a lot, very clear, helpful and live explanations and examples. You are generous to share everything you know just for free.
Ahmed
Oct 10, 2010, 3:35 pmI’am English teacher .. So I need more help
Richard Holguín Lozada
Oct 10, 2010, 9:57 pmHello, I need help with verb ‘To take’, thanks
nizar
Nov 11, 2010, 11:00 amGiving good forever , God bless your white hands , I try to improve but money is honey to connect you needs patience and time .. I respect you and pray for you … Spiritul words are better than a stone , noway but the enter power to overcome any future difficulties…
Ma Mercedes Mitjans
Dec 12, 2010, 10:33 amGreat exercises…for both adolescents and children!! in lower levels.
alphonse abizeye ndagijimana
Jan 1, 2013, 3:48 pmThanks for teaching simple and past continuous,so i need a help about past perfect if it is possible