Past Simple vs Past Continuous (Progressive)

Past Simple: kicked/did not kick (Ved/V2)
- Used to express actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past.
- Often accompanied by time expressions that specify when the action took place (yesterday,
last week, in 2005, etc.).
- Emphasizes the completion of the action in the past.
Example: She visited Paris last summer.

Past Continuous (Progressive): was/were kicking (Ving)
- Used to express actions or events in progress at a certain time in the past.
- Often used with time expressions such as "at (8 o’clock) yesterday," "at that moment," "at
the time".
- Emphasizes the duration of the past action at a certain moment.
Example: What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying.
Note:
- Past Simple and Past Continuous are often used together. It shows us that the past simple action happened
in the middle of the past continuous action, while it was in progress.
While (when) I was studying, I suddenly felt sleepy.
- We often use these tenses to show an action interrupting another action.
As I was going to work, I saw an old friend.
A. Answer the question following the statement.
1. My parents called me yesterday.
Did I talk to them all day?
2. I was playing video games at that moment.
Did something interrupt my game?
3. I woke up early this morning.
Did it take me a lot of time to get out of bed?
4. At 8 o'clock yesterday, we were walking to school.
Were we at school at 8 o’clock yesterday?
5. I was studying all day yesterday.
What is more important – the process or the result?
6. Sam played basketball when he was at university.
Does he still play basketball?
7. Sam was playing basketball when I found him.
Was he in the middle of the game when I saw him?
8. While I was cooking dinner, my kids were doing their homework.
Were both actions happening at the same time?
9. As I was getting dressed, my phone rang.
Did I stop getting dressed to answer the phone call?
10. When I was walking to the store, I saw my neighbour.
Did I continue walking?
11. At the time my train arrived, I was standing on the wrong platform.
Was I on the platform before the train arrived?
12. This time last year I was studying at university.
Did I finish my studies at that moment?
B. Exercises
1. Helen (do) __________ her weekly shopping when she (meet) _______ her
old friend, June.
2. The sun (shine) __________ when I (get) ________ up this morning. I (feel)
__________ so tired!
3. Jim (wait) ________ at one airport while Max (wait) _____ at the other. What
a disaster!
4. It (rain) _________ very hard, so the referee (decide) ____ not to play the
match.
5. When the police (arrive) _________ at the party, the music (play)
____________ very loud and everybody (shout) _______ .
6. The mail (arrive) _________ very late today. It (come) _________ after
eleven o'clock.
7. Joan (become) __________ very angry this morning. She (speak) _________
to an important client and someone (enter) _________ the room without
knocking.
8. Hank (cook) _________ in the kitchen. His sister (offer) ________ to help but
Hank (refuse) __________.
9. I saw you driving down Green Street yesterday! Where (go) ___ you ____?
10. When we saw the crime, we (call) _________ the police.