Look at these examples to see how the past continuous and past simple are used.
When I woke up this morning, it was snowing.
I was sleeping when you called me.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
The past continuous and the past simple help us to show how two past actions or situations are connected.
Past simple
The past simple shows us that an action was in the past, not in the present. Regular past simple verbs have -ed at the end (e.g. called, played, arrived). Irregular verbs have a different form, usually with a different vowel sound (e.g. wake → woke, break → broke, feel → felt).
My parents called me yesterday.
I woke up early this morning.
Sam played basketball when he was at university.
We make the negative with didn't and the infinitive verb.
My parents didn't call me yesterday.
I didn't wake up early this morning.
We make the question form with did and then the subject and infinitive verb.
Did you wake up early this morning?
Did Sam play basketball when he was at university?
Past continuous
The past continuous shows us that the action was already in progress at a certain time in the past.
What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying.
This means that I started studying before 8 p.m. and I continued after 8 p.m.
The past continuous can also show that an activity was in progress for some time, not just for a moment.
We were cleaning the house all morning.
We make the past continuous with was or were and the -ing form of the verb.
She couldn't come to the party. She was working.
Three years ago, we were living in my home town.
I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening.
What were you doing this time last year?
Past continuous and past simple
When we use these two tenses together, it shows us that the past simple action happened in the middle of the past continuous action, while it was in progress.
While I was studying, I suddenly felt sleepy.
We often use these tenses to show an action interrupting another action.
I broke my leg when I was skiing.
As I was going to work, I saw an old friend.
We were watching television when the power went off.
Can you see a difference in the meaning of these two sentences?
When the guests arrived, Jane was cooking dinner.
When the guests arrived, Jane cooked dinner.
In the first one, Jane started cooking dinner before the guests arrived. We know that because it uses the past continuous. In the second sentence, the guests arrived first and then Jane started cooking.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hi, can you help me check which one is correct, "While John was talking to Sarah, Jane was trying to get his attention." or "While John was talking to Sarah, Jane tried to get his attention."
Thanks
Hello suonghuynh,
Both can be correct! It depends on what you mean.
'While John was talking to Sarah, Jane tried to get his attention'. This is a little less descriptive than the other sentence, but also probably more common. It just means that Jane tried to get his attention. It could have been just one time, or it could have been that she tried several times while he was talking. All we know is that she tried, but since this is very often the most important information, this is probably the more common of these two options.
'While John was talking to Sarah, Jane was trying to get his attention'. This option is a bit more specific. It's almost as if the speaker is remembering the situation and reliving it. The situation sounds more alive. This sort of sentence could be used in a story, for example. Perhaps the writer is explaining all the different ways Jane was trying to get John's attention.
I hope this helps you make sense of it.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
A: Did you start a new job?
B: Yes, I started yesterday.
A: Yeah, great.
B: When I was attending the first meeting, I had got smart idea.
A: Did you tell your manager about this idea?
B: When I wanted to tell him suddenly he was answering a call for an urgent reason.
Dear Teachers,
In the example ,At 6 pm yesterday, it was already getting dark.Can I use it was already got dark?
Hello Aung Qui,
No, I'm afraid 'it was got dark' is not a correct in this case. You could say 'it had already got' or 'it was already getting'.
'it had already got' means that at 6 p.m. it was completely dark. It got dark earlier than 6 p.m. You could also say 'it was already dark' and it would mean the same thing.
'it was already getting' means that it was between light and dark at 6 p.m. At that time, night was in the process of falling and daylight was fading.
Does that make sense? If you need more clarification, please don't hesitate to ask.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello Aung Qui,
No, that isn't correct. You could say these:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you very much for these practices.
thanks
Dear teachers,
In the example (When I woke up this morning, it was snowing) can I talk about the future using the present simple? I mean can I say (When I wake up this morning, it'll be snowing).
Secondly, in the example (I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening) why did you say some advice? why didn't you say some advices?.
kind regards
Asala Mohammed
Hi Asala Mohammed,
Yes, right! Your example is correct.
It says "some advice" because "advice" is an uncountable noun. We can't add "s" because it's not countable.
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team