PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINIOUS

PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINIOUS

1. When do we use it?

   • Past Simple
     • Action in the past taking place once
     • Never or several times actions in the past taking place one after the other
     • Action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
     • If sentences type II (If I talked, …)
     • FORM
       • For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.
       • POSITIVE: I spoke
       • NEGATIVE: I did not speak
       • INTERROGATIVE: Did I speak?
     • SIGNAL WORDS
       • yesterday,
       • 2 minutes ago
       • In 1990
       • Other day
     • EXCEPTIONS in spelling when adding ed
       • after a final e only add d love – loved
         • final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled admit – admitted travel – travelled
           • final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried
   • Past Continhuous
     • Puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past
     • Two actions happening at the same time (in the past) :
     • Action going on at a certain time in hte past.
     • FORM
       • POSITIVE: :i was speaking / you were speaking
       • NEGATIVE: I was not speeaking / You were not speaking
       • INTERROGATIVE: Was I speaking? / Were you speakinig?
     • SIGNAL WORDS
       • When
       • While
       • As long as
     • EXCEPTIONS in spelling when adding ing
       • final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed) come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)
         • after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled, sit – sitting
           • l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling
             • final ie becomes y lie – lying