past continuous or past simple

We use the past continuous to
talk about an action that
started in the past but not
finished at the time of another
action or event.
Eg. I was sleeping when you
phoned
To describe two or more long
actions which were happening at
the same time in the past.
Eg. Mark was reading a book and
Tony was watching television.
We use the past continuous to
talk about an action that
started in the past but not
finished at the time of another
action or event.
Eg. I was sleeping when you
phoned
To describe two or more long
actions which were happening at
the same time in the past.
Eg. Mark was reading a book and
Tony was watching television.
BE CAREFUL!!!!
The past continuous
and the past simple
are often used
together.
The past simple
interrupts the action

of the past
continuous.
Eg. I was watching
television when my
friend arrived.
BE CAREFUL!!!!
The past continuous
and the past simple
are often used
together.
The past simple
interrupts the action
of the past
continuous.
Eg. I was watching
television when my
friend arrived.
The past continuous is formed:
Affirmative
with was/were + infinitive verb + -ing.
Negative
with wasn’t/weren’t + infinitive verb + -ing
Interrogative
Was/ were + pronoun/name + infinite verb + -ing
The past continuous is formed:
Affirmative
with was/were + infinitive verb + -ing.
Negative
with wasn’t/weren’t + infinitive verb + -ing
Interrogative

Was/ were + pronoun/name + infinite verb + -ing
Put the verbs in brackets into the past continuous or simple past:
1. Lisa _____________ (comb) her hair while she ____________(listen to) the news on
the radio.
2. The children ______________(watch)television while Homer _________(eat) a
doughnut.
3. Marge Simpson ___________(wash) the dog while Bart ______________(do) my
homework.
4. It was sunny when Marge ___________ (hang out)her washing.
5. Homer _____________ (look) out of the window while Bart _________ (read) a book.
6. This morning, Homer ____________ (go) to work and Lisa _____________ (wait)for
Lisa.
7. Millhouse_____________ (stand) at the bus stop and he _____________ (talk) to
Bart.
8. Homer Simpson ____________ (wash) his car while the dog __________(run) across
the road.
9. Bart’s father cut himself while he ________________ (shave).
10. Lisa ______________ (brush) her teeth while Marge _______________ (put on) her
make up.
Last Week at 5pm, the Simpsons were doing something in particular. Make sentences to
find out what they were doing:
1. Lisa/saxophone/play
2. Marge/cake/make
3. Sleep/Bart
4. The Simpsons/watch/television
5. Homer/shower/have
6. Marge and Homer/dance
Make sentences with the past continuous and number the pictures:
Get married, ride, hug, drink, carry, chase, make, play (2),read, eat, roller skate, have,
1. Marge and Homer______________.

2. Barney___________________a beer at the pub.
3. Lisa ________________her saxophone.
4. Homer _____________________ his guitar.
5. Bart ______________his book and Lisa________________some books..
6. Homer _______________a sandwich while Marge_______________.
7. Lisa _________________ her pony and Marge_____________Maggie.
8. Homer ________________a shower while Marge_____________the children
What were the Simpsons doing last Saturday?
Listen, make, watch, sit, put, talk, play, dance
Last Saturday the Simpsons were at home.
Homer _____________ on the sofa and he ________________ television. Marge
_____________a special cake in the kitchen for Lisa’s birthday. She ____________it into
the oven when the phone rang. It was her friend. While she ____________, Homer came in to
get something to drink.
Bart was upstairs in his bedroom. He______________ with his video games. Lisa and Maggie
______________to music in Lisa’s room and they _______________and laughing.