Past Continuous and Past Simple - A2 Exercises
Six tasks on the tense that sets the scene. The Past Continuous describes what was going on at some moment in the past, and the Past Simple cuts into it: While Mike was riding his bike, he fell off.
The last task is twenty pictures for speaking - one sentence about each, and nothing is checked.
Rule: Past Continuous and Past Simple ShowHide
Past Continuous
was / were + -ing – an action in progress at a moment in the past.
At eight o'clock we were watching a film.
It wasn't raining.
Were your parents watching TV?
Past Simple
A short, finished action, or one action after another.
The doorbell rang.
Jill got up and had breakfast.
Together
A longer action (Past Continuous) is interrupted by a short one (Past Simple).
- when + Past Simple: I was doing my homework when the doorbell rang.
- while + Past Continuous: While Steve was driving, his phone rang.
- Two long actions at the same time: While Mum was cooking, Dad was reading.
was with I / he / she / it, were with you / we / they: The dog was chasing the cat. Kate and John were eating dinner.
Tasks
Past Continuous
was / were + -ing – an action in progress at a moment in the past.
At eight o'clock we were watching a film.
It wasn't raining.
Were your parents watching TV?
Past Simple
A short, finished action, or one action after another.
The doorbell rang.
Jill got up and had breakfast.
Together
A longer action (Past Continuous) is interrupted by a short one (Past Simple).
- when + Past Simple: I was doing my homework when the doorbell rang.
- while + Past Continuous: While Steve was driving, his phone rang.
- Two long actions at the same time: While Mum was cooking, Dad was reading.
was with I / he / she / it, were with you / we / they: The dog was chasing the cat. Kate and John were eating dinner.