Past Simple and Past Continuous Contrasted
Differences and similarities in the Past Simple and the Past Continuous
1. Use
Past Simple | Past Continuous |
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|
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2. Form
Past Simple | Past Continuous |
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| (was or were) + infinitive + –ing |
3. Examples
3.1. Affirmative sentences
Past Simple | Past Continuous |
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I played tennis. | He was playing tennis. |
You played tennis. | You were playing tennis. |
He played tennis. | He was playing tennis. |
3.2. Negative sentences
Past Simple | Past Continuous |
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I did not played tennis. | He was not playing tennis. |
You did not played tennis. | You were not playing tennis. |
He did not played tennis. | He was not playing tennis. |
3.3. Questions
Past Simple | Past Continuous |
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Did I play tennis? | Was I playing tennis? |
Did you play tennis? | Were you playing tennis? |
Did he play tennis? | Was he playing tennis? |
4. Spelling
Past Simple | Past Continuous |
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|
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5. Use
Both tenses are often used together in one sentence:
While I was having a bath, the telephone rang.
I was having a bath when the telephone rang.
- Past Continuous → I was having a bath
- Past Simple → the telephone rang.
The action in the Past Simple (2) interrupts the action in the Past Continuous (1).