CHUYÊN ĐỀ 5

PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS

1. PAST SIMPLE

FORM
Most Verbs conjugate by adding -ed like the verb "wait" below.
Positive Negative Question

I waited. I did not wait. Did I wait?

You waited. You did not wait. Did you wait?

We waited. We did not wait. Did we wait?

They waited. They did not wait. Did they wait?

He waited. He did not wait. Did he wait?

She waited. She did not wait. Did she wait?

It waited. It did not wait. Did it wait?

Irregular Verbs
Positive Negative Question

I had. I did not have. Did I have?

You had. You did not have. Did you have?

We had. We did not have. Did we have?

They had. They did not have. Did they have?

He had. He did not have. Did he have?

She had. She did not have. Did she have?

It had. It did not have. Did it have?

To Be

Positive Negative Question

I was. I was not. Was I?

You were. You were not. Were you?

We were. We were not. Were we?

They were. They were not. Were they?

He was. He was not. Was he?

She was. She was not. Was she?

It was. It was not. Was it?

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in
the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have
one specific time in mind.

Examples:
 I saw a movie yesterday.
 I didn't see a play yesterday.
 Last year, I traveled to Japan.
 Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
 Did you have dinner last night?
 She washed her car.
 He didn't wash his car.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Examples:
 I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
 He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at
10:00.
 Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a
longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all
year, etc.

Examples:
 I lived in Brazil for two years.
 Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
 They sat at the beach all day.
 They did not stay at the party the entire time.
 We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
  A: How long did you wait for them?
B: We waited for one hour.

USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the
same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add
expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger,
etc.

Examples:
 I studied French when I was a child.
 He played the violin.
 He didn't play the piano.
 Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
 She worked at the movie theater after school.
 They never went to school, they always skipped class.

USE 5 Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer
true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

Examples:
 She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.
 He didn't like tomatoes before.
 Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?
 People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

IMPORTANT When-Clauses Happen First

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete sentences. Some
clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when I dropped my pen..." or "when class
began..." These clauses are called when-clauses, and they are very important. The examples
below contain when-clauses.

Examples:
 When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.
 She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.
When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the
Simple Past. Both of the examples above mean the same thing: first, I paid her one dollar, and
then, she answered my question. It is not important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at
the beginning of the sentence or at the end of the sentence. However, the example below has a
different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one dollar.

Example:
 I paid her one dollar when she answered my question.

2. PAST CONTINUOUS

FORM

[was/were + V-ing (present participle)]

Positive Negative Question

I was singing. I was not singing. Was I singing?

You were singing You were not singing. Were you singing?

We were singing. We were not singing. Were we singing?

They were singing. They were not singing. Were they singing?

He was singing. He was not singing. Was he singing?

She was singing. She was not singing. Was she singing?

It was singing. It was not singing. Was it singing?

Examples:
 You were studying when she called.
 Were you studying when she called?
 You were not studying when she called.

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The
interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real
interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:
 I was watching TV when she called.
 When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
 While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
 What were you doing when the earthquake started?
  I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
 You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
 While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
 Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
 While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
 A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple
Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:
 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
 At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
 Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past
Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.

Examples:
 Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I started eating at 6 PM.
 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.

USE 3 Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the
idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:
 I was studying while he was making dinner.
 While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
 Were you listening while he was talking?
 I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
 What were you doing while you were waiting?
 Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
 They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
USE 4 Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular
time in the past.

Example:
 When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on
the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped.
One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were
complainingto each other about the bad service.

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that
something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the
expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or
"constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:
 She was always coming to class late.
 He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
 I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

While vs. When

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some
clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other
clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When
you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past,
whereas "while" is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during
that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize
different parts of the sentence.

Examples:
 I was studying when she called.
 While I was studying, she called.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous

tenses (be, have, hear, know, like, love, hate, see, smell, think, want, need, believe,
understand, appear, wish, sound, seem, taste, own). Also, certain non-continuous meanings
for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with
these verbs, you must use Simple Past.
  Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
 Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct

3. THE DIFFERENCES

After another or at the same time?

Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same
time?
Simple Past Past Progressive
after another at the same time
She came home, switched on the computer and checked Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was
her e-mails. watching TV.

New action or already in progress?

If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need
both tenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in
progress.
Simple Past Past Progressive
new action action already in progress
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.) While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)?
Or do you want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a
certain time?
Simple Past Past Progressive
just mentioning emphasising progress
Colin played football yesterday. Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).

 state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We were on holiday.

 possession: belong, have

Example: Sam had a cat.

 senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He felt the cold.

 feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Example: Jane loved pizza.
 brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I did not understand him.

 introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

Example: “I am watching TV,“ he said.

Signal words
Simple Past Past Progressive
 first  when
 then  while
 yesterday/ ago/ last  as long as

 Spelling Rules:
- Spelling Rules for Regular verbs (V-ing) in Past Continuous: same as rules
adding –ing

- Cách thêm –ed:

o V kết thúc là e, ta thêm d: liked, loved, hated, danced, lived.

o V kết thúc là C-V-C, ta gấp đôi phụ âm rồi thêm –ed: skipped, stopped,
clapped, planned, snorkelled.
o V kết thúc là y mà trước nó là 1 phụ âm, ta đổi y -> i + ed: carried, studied,
cried, tried.
o Các V còn lại, ta thêm –ed: played, listened, cleaned, climbed.
- Cách đọc –ed:
o Các động từ kết thúc là: t và d, đuôi “ed” đọc là: /id/
o Các động từ kết thúc là âm vô thanh: /k/, /f/, /s/, /p/, /tʃ/, /ʃ/, /θ/ ta đọc là /t/
o Các động từ kết thúc là âm hữu thanh còn lại: đuôi “ed” đọc là: /d/
/t/ /id/ /d/
V ends with voiceless Vends with –d/-t Các động từ còn lại
sound (/ʃ/, / tʃ/, / θ /, /s/,
/k/, /f/, /p/)
stopped /stɒpt/ wanted /wɒntɪd/ played
watched /wɒtʃt/ needed /niːdɪd/ lived
worked /wəːkt/ tested /tɛstɪd/ smiled
pushed /pʊʃt/ planted /plɑːntɪd/ raised
placed /pleɪst/ granted /ɡrɑːntɪd/ copied
laughed /lɑːft/ mended /mɛndɪd/ learned
Irregular verbs list:
No INFINITIVE PAST PAST INFINITIVE PAST PAST
SIMPLE PARTICIPE SIMPLE PARTICIPE
1 be hurt
3 become keep
5 begin know
7 bite learn
9 bleed leave
11 break lend
13 bring let
15 build lose
17 burn make
19 buy meet
21 can pay
23 catch put
25 choose read
27 come ride
29 cost ring
31 cut run
33 dig say
35 do see
37 drink sell
39 drive send
41 eat set
43 fall show
45 feed sit
47 feel sleep
49 find speak
51 fight spend
53 fly swim
55 forget take
57 get teach
59 give tell
61 grow think
63 hang throw
65 have understand
67 hear wear
69 hide win
71 hit write
72 hold
Write the past forms of the irregular verbs.
Infinitive Simple Past Infinitive Simple Past

meet feel
. .

drive wear
. .

speak sleep
. .

put tell
. .

write give
. .

sing set
. .

do swim
. .

sit show
. .

stand run
. .

run break
. .

Put the verbs into the simple past:

1. Last year I (go) to England on holiday.
2. It (be) fantastic.
3. I (visit) lots of interesting places. I (be) with two friends of mine.
4. In the mornings we (walk) in the streets of London.
5. In the evenings we (go) to pubs.
6. The weather (be) strangely fine.
7. It (not / rain) a lot.
8. But we (see) some beautiful rainbows.
9. Where (spend / you) your last holiday?
10. We really (enjoy) the game last Sunday.
11. (Marco / win) the golf competition?
12. They (not play) very well yesterday. They lost the match.
13. How many goals (your team / score) in the first half?
14. Sandra (not want) to go rowing with me.
15. (they / go) to the swimming pool yesterday?
16. I (buy) a new baseball cap last week.
17. James (stop) his car in front of the sports shops.
Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive).

1. When I phoned my friends, they (play) monopoly.

2. Yesterday at six I (prepare) dinner.
3. The kids (play) in the garden when it suddenly began to rain.
4. I (practice) the guitar when he came home.
5. We (not / cycle) all day.
6. While Alan (work) in his room, his friends (swim) in the pool.
7. I tried to tell them the truth but they (not / listen) .
8. What (you / do) yesterday?
9. Most of the time we (sit) in the park.
10. I (listen) to the radio while my sister (watch) TV.
11. When I arrived, they (play) cards.
12. We (study) English yesterday at 4:00 pm.

Complete the sentences. Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or the past continuous.
1. While I (drive), I (have) an accident.
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Kate (have) dinner and then she (do) her homework.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. The thieves (hide) in the kitchen when the police (come) in.
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Sam (plan) a party and then he (phone) his friends.
__________________________________________________________________________
5. While we (clean) the house, we (break) some glasses.
__________________________________________________________________________
6. Alan (look) out of the window when he (see) a UFO.
__________________________________________________________________________
7. While I (watch) TV, the door bell (ring).
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Jack (finish) his presentation when the fire alarm (start).
__________________________________________________________________________
9. Just as I (open) my front door, a cat (run) inside.
__________________________________________________________________________
10. My mom (telephone) me while I (eat) dinner.
__________________________________________________________________________
11. When the mailman (come), I (do) my exercise.
__________________________________________________________________________
12. When I (wake up), my alarm clock (ring).
__________________________________________________________________________
13. Peter (phone) me while I (sit) on the train.
__________________________________________________________________________
 14. While I (look) out of the window, it (start) to rain.
__________________________________________________________________________
15. As I (leave) the building, a police car (drive) through the gate.
__________________________________________________________________________

Fill in the gaps with the present simple, present continuous or the past simple:
1. I (to play) tennis yesterday but I (not to win).
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. John (not to write) letters very often; he (to prefer) phoning.

_____________________________________________________________________________

3. She (not to go) to work yesterday because she (not to feel) well.
_____________________________________________________________________________

4. The polar ice cap (to consist) of millions of tons of ice.

_____________________________________________________________________________

5. You (not to help) your brother, did you? - No, I (to go) to the dentist.
_____________________________________________________________________________

6. Where (Mr Moore - to fish) at the moment? I (not, to know)

_____________________________________________________________________________

7. How (you - to go) to school? - I (to go - always) by bike.

_____________________________________________________________________________

8. My grandfather (not to go) to school by bike, he (to go) on foot.

_____________________________________________________________________________

9. Last month, we (to enjoy) swimming in a five-star hotel. It (to be) wonderful.
_____________________________________________________________________________

10. He last (to write) three months ago.

_____________________________________________________________________________

11. Be quiet, please! I (to watch) a film.

_____________________________________________________________________________

12. (you - to know) where your brother is? - Oh, I (to meet) him an hour ago, at Richmond Brigde.
_____________________________________________________________________________

13. (you - to know) where your brother (to be) last night? - He (to spend) the evening with his
friends.
_____________________________________________________________________________

14. James!! Where (Dorothy - to be)? - She is outside. She (to play) with her baby sister.
_____________________________________________________________________________
 15. What (Dorothy - to do) last night?
_____________________________________________________________________________

- She (to study) French and (to talk) to her friends on the phone.
_____________________________________________________________________________

- (she - to study) hard?

_____________________________________________________________________________

- Yes, of course, she ________.

16. John (to work) in the garden at the moment. He (to like) doing this, anyway.
Although he (to hate) it when he (to be) younger.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

17. Last year, we (to spend) our vacation in Greece.

_____________________________________________________________________________

- How (you - to travel)?

_____________________________________________________________________________

- We (to fly)
_____________________________________________________________________________

- (you - to like) it here?

_____________________________________________________________________________

- Yes, we (to have) the time of our life.

_____________________________________________________________________________
Fill in the gaps with the present simple, present continuous, the past simple or past continuous:
1. Yesterday my uncle (repair) the car while I (do) my homework.
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Today (be) Monday and we (have) dinner in the dining room now.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. My elder brother (be) very intelligent. He (want) to be a doctor.
__________________________________________________________________________
4. She (have) a terrible headache right now.
__________________________________________________________________________
5. When my parents (be) young, they (like) Rolling Stones.
__________________________________________________________________________
6. My sister (believe) in magic. She always (try) tricks on me!
__________________________________________________________________________
7. Every morning I (get up) at 7 o’clock, I (have) breakfast, I always (take) my bike, and I (go)
quickly to school. I always (arrive) late!
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Hey! What you (do)? - I (do) my homework.
__________________________________________________________________________
9. Once upon a time, there (be) a horrible witch. She (love) scaring children.
__________________________________________________________________________
10. Evevry day, she (take) the children to school. They (go) by car.
__________________________________________________________________________