past simple vs. past progressive

Front

What is the past simple tense?

Back

The past simple tense is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. It often includes a specific time reference.

Front

What is the past progressive tense?

Back

The past progressive tense describes actions that were ongoing in the past. It is formed using 'was/were' + verb-ing.

Front

When do we use the past simple tense?

Back

We use the past simple tense for actions that happened at a specific time in the past.

Front

When do we use the past progressive tense?

Back

We use the past progressive tense to describe actions that were in progress at a certain point in the past.

Front

How do you form the past simple tense for regular verbs?

Back

For regular verbs, the past simple is formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb.

Front

How do you form the past simple tense for irregular verbs?

Back

Irregular verbs have unique past forms that must be memorized (e.g., go - went, have - had).

Front

What is the structure of a sentence in the past simple tense?

Back

The structure is: Subject + past verb + (object). Example: 'She visited her friend.'

Front

What is the structure of a sentence in the past progressive tense?

Back

The structure is: Subject + was/were + verb-ing + (object). Example: 'They were playing soccer.'

Front

What is the difference between 'was sleeping' and 'slept'?

Back

'Was sleeping' indicates an ongoing action in the past, while 'slept' indicates a completed action.

Front

How do you use both past simple and past progressive in a sentence?

Back

Use past progressive to set the scene and past simple for the action that interrupts. Example: 'I was reading when the phone rang.'