Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

Master past tenses! Practice Past Simple vs. Past Continuous with fun exercises.

Video Watch a short video about a very clumsy sister and her rather heroic brother. Explanation The sun was shining, someone was playing a violin in the street and I was enjoying a beautiful afternoon.-3 parallel actions going on at the same time in the pastI was reading the label when the jar just slippedout of my hands and fell down.-one longer action interrupted by a shorter action in the pastWhat were you doing yesterday around 8 pm? I was watching TV (around 8 pm).-an action going on at a specific time in the pastBoth Past Simple and Past Continuous express actions that started and finished in the past. The main difference is in the duration of the actions: Past Continuous expresses actions that lasted over a longer period of time, while Past Simple is used for short actions.WHEN and WHILE are used with Past Simple and Continuous: WHEN is usually followed by Past Simple, and WHILE by Past Continuous Fill in the sentences by using the verbs in Past Simple or Continuous: When the teacher entered(enter) the classroom, Harry was sending (send) a text to his girlfriend.I was doing (do) some shopping when I ran (run) into my friend Sally.When we got (get) to the party, everyone was dancing (dance).It was raining (rain) all day so we decided (decide) to stay at home and binge watch Netflix.While I was walking (walk) my dog Toby in the park, it started (start) raining.I couldn't come over to your place last night because I was looking (look) after my little sister.Where were you living (live) when you were (be) little?Mark had (have) four crashes while he was learning (learn) to drive.Mr. Hammond was working (work) in the City when he met (meet) Carol.You weren't listening (listen) when I asked (ask) you to turn the music down. Fill in the story by using Past Simple and Continuous Peter and Terry were sitting (sit) in a coffee shop yesterday afternoon. They were talking (talk) about the last soccer match and they weren't looking (not look) out the window. Suddenly, the waitress screamed (scream) and dropped (drop) the whole tray full of coffee cups on the floor. When the boys turned (turn) and looked (look) her way, the waitress was looking (look) out the window. There was (be) a young guy getting out of a fancy car. The waitress ran (run) out of the coffee shop and went (go) up to the guy. She was holding (hold) a piece of paper in her hand. When she came (come) back inside, she was smiling (smile). She had (have) her favorite influencer's autograph, but Peter and Terry were (be) still without their coffee. Finish the sentences so they are true for you. Use Past Simple or Continuous. While I was studying, ...I didn't know the answer ...We were driving ...My best friend was ...It was ...