Past Continuous vs Past Simple

Past Continuous vs Past Simple

1. Past Continuous (Past Progressive)

   • Actions still in progress in the past.
     • Example: Someone was chasing her!
   • Background events
     • Example: On a cold, dark night, Elissa was working at the office.
   • Forms
     • Statements
       • Subject + was/were + verb (-ing)...
     • Yes/No Questions
       • Was/Were + subject + verb (-ing) +...?
     • Open Questions
       • Wh-/How + was/were + subject + verb (-ing) +...?

2. Past Simple

   • Completed or repeated actions.
     • Example: She quickly ran into the cemetery.
   • Past SImple + Past Simple
     • Example: She quickly ran into the cemetery and hid there.

3. Past Continuous + Past Simple or Pas Simple + Past Continuous

   • Shorter action (Past Simple) happened while longer action (Past Continuous) was still in progress.
     • Example: As she was leaving her office, she realised the streets were now empty.
   • Interruption
     • Example: While she was walking, she heard some footsteps behind her. She turned around to look.

Images and files in the map