In this lesson we’re looking at The Present Continuous in English.
Here, we’re learning about using the Present Continuous with the Past Simple, and looking at the differences between them.
Have fun with the lesson, and don’t forget to try the quizzes by clicking on their links below
– James.
Lesson Contents
When do we use the Past Continuous?
Yesterday, Mary ate salad for lunch. She started at 12.30, and finished at 1.30. So:
At 1pm, Marie was eating salad.
This is an example of a Past Continuous sentence.
Choose the correct Past Continuous auxiliary in this quiz. The auxiliaries will be either was or were. Have a look at the subject of each sentence to decide which one to use.
More examples
“I was doing.” means “I was in the middle of doing at a certain time.” The action or situation had already started before this time, but had not finished:
This time last year I was living in Spain.
What were you doing at 6am?
I called your name but you weren’t listening.
Write about the Past Continuous story in this quiz. Simply read the times and complete the sentences. Use the past continuous version of the verbs in the schedule.
Yesterday, Cobie…
6:15 – 6:30 am: Had breakfast.
6:30 – 7:15 am: Worked out.
8:00 – 8:30 am: Drove to work.
8:30 – 11:30 am: Worked in Manchester.
11:30 – 12:30 pm: Had lunch.12:30 – 1:15 pm: Drove to Bolton.
1:15 – 4:00 pm: Worked in Bolton.
4:00 – 5:00 pm: Drove home.
5:00 – 8:00 pm: Relaxed with the family.
8:00 – 10:00 pm: Had a drink at the pub.
Write about what Cobie did yesterday.
Past Simple or Past Continuous?
The Past Simple is used for an uninterrupted action in the past :
I drove home after the party yesterday.
Stephanie watched a great tennis match last night.
The Past Continuous is used for an an action in the past that was interrupted by another action:
I was driving home last night when my phone rang.
Stephanie was watching a tennis match when I came home.
Check if the Past Continuous sentences are correct in this quiz. Look at the underlined parts of the sentences and decide if they are correct or not.
Using the Past Simple and the Past Continuous together
Sometimes we can use the Past Simple and the Past Continuous together. This is to say that one action happened in the middle of another action:
I saw my ex while I was driving home.
I broke a plate while I was having dinner.
She hurt her ankle while she was running.
It was raining when I hiked up the mountain.
Compare these two sentences:
We were having cocktails when Sam arrived.
(We had already started before he came)
We had cocktails when Sam arrived.
(We started to have cocktails after he came)
State Verbs
Just like all the other continuous sentences, you cannot use State Verbs:
We were great friends, we knew all of each other’s secrets.
(not “… were knowing.”)
I loved the meal, but Stephanie hated it.
(not “… was hating.”)
Complete the past sentences using the verbs in brackets. The sentences will either be in the Past Simple, or the Past Continuous.
Recap
- The Past Continuous is used to say when you were in the middle of an action.
- As with other continuous tenses, you cannot use STATE VERBS.
