Past Simple vs Past Continuous: How to Tell the Difference

Description: Struggle with past tenses? Learn when to use Past Simple and when to use Past Continuous with clear examples and exercises.

Introduction

English has many past tenses, but the most common are Past Simple and Past Continuous. Learners often confuse them. Let’s break down the rules.

Rule 1: Past Simple = Finished Actions in the Past

• Used for completed actions at a specific time.
• Common with yesterday, last year, in 2010, ago.

Examples:

• I watched a movie yesterday.
• She visited London in 2018.
• They went to school 2 hours ago.

Rule 2: Past Continuous = Ongoing Action in the Past

• Used for actions happening at a particular moment in the past.
• Describes background situations.
• Common with while, when.

Examples:

• I was reading when she called.
• They were playing football at 5 p.m.
• She was cooking while I was studying.

Rule 3: Interrupted Actions

• Past Continuous = long action, Past Simple = short action that interrupts.
  Example: I was sleeping when the phone rang.

Common Mistakes

• ❌ I was go to school yesterday. → ✔ I went to school yesterday.
• ❌ He watched TV when I came. (sounds like both short actions). → ✔ He was watching TV when I came.

Practice Plan

• Day 1: Write 10 Past Simple sentences (finished actions).
• Day 2: Write 10 Past Continuous sentences (ongoing actions).
• Day 3: Combine both (interrupted actions).
• Day 4: Listen to a story, underline Past Simple vs Continuous.
• Day 5: Write a short story mixing both tenses.

Conclusion

Past Simple = completed past. Past Continuous = ongoing background. Use them together to make stories richer.

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