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  SIMPLE PAST TENSE vs PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE

Usage and Application

 

1. Use:

                    Simple Past

                                              Past Progressive

 

-action finished in the past (single or repeated)

               -action was in progress at a special time in the past

-series of completed actions in the past

               -two actions were happening at the same time (the actions do not influence each other)

 

 

2. Form:

 

 

Simple Past

                                                          Past Progressive

 

regular verbs: infinitive + -ed
irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table

of the irregular verbs

                   (was or were) + infinitive + -ing

   

 

Simple Past

          

 

                                                             Past Progressive

 

 

Affirmative Sentences

 

 

He played football.

                                                  He was playing football.

 

We played football.

                                                  We were playing football.

 

He sang songs.

                                                  He was singing songs.

 

We sang songs.

                                                  We were singing songs.

 

 

 

 

Simple Past

                                                    Past Progressive

 

 

                                                   Negative Sentences

 

 

He did not play football.

                                             He was not playing football.

 

We did not play football.

                                             We were not playing football.

 

He did not sing songs.

                                             He was not singing songs.

 

We did not sing songs.

                                             We were not singing songs.

 

 

 

 

Simple Past

                                     

                           Past Progressive

 

 

        Questions

 

 

Did he play football?

                          Was he playing?

 

Did you play football?

                          Were you playing?

 

Did he sing songs?

                          Was he singing?

 

Did you sing songs?

                          Were you singing?

 

 

3. Spelling

 

Simple Past                                                                                                                                 Past Progressive

 

-stopped (Double the consonant after a short vowel.)                                            -sitting (double consonant after short vowel)

-loved (one -e at the end of the word -> Leave out the -e and add -d.)                 -writing (leave out one -e at the end)

-worried (consonant before -y ->Change to -ie.)                                                     -lying (change -ie to -y)

 

 

4. Use

 

Both tenses are often used in one sentence:

 

-While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.

-We were sitting at the breakfast table when the telephone rang.

 

The signal word while is in the part with the Past Progressive,
The signal word when is in the part with the Simple Past.

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