Simple Past Past Progressive

Form

Simple Past Past Progressive

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs past form of 'be' + ing form of verb

I spoke I was speaking

regular verbs: verb + ed you were speaking

he / she / it was speaking
I worked
we were speaking
they were speaking

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

when the final letter is e, only add d. silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: love - loved Example: come - coming

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled but: agree - agreeing

Example: admit - admitted after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

final l is always doubled in British English (not in Example: sit - sitting

American English) final l is always doubled in British English (not in
Example: travel - travelled American English)

after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a Example: travel - travelling
vowel) final ie becomes y.
Example: worry - he worried Example: lie - lying
but: play - he played

Use

After another or at the same time?

Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time?

Simple Past Past Progressive

at the same time

after another
Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was

She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e- watching TV.

mails.

New action or already in progress?

If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses:
Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.
 Simple Past Past Progressive

action already in progress

new action
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)

My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.)

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)? Or do you
want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?

Simple Past Past Progressive

just mentioning emphasising progress

Colin played football yesterday. Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).

state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We were on holiday.

possession: belong, have

Example: Sam had a cat.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He felt the cold.

feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Example: Jane loved pizza.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I did not understand him.

introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

Example: I am watching TV, he said.

Exercise

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1. The receptionist(welcome) the guests and(ask) them to fill in the form.

2. The car(break) down and we(have) to walk home.

3. The boys(swim) while the girls(sunbathe) .

4. My father(come) in,(look) around and(tell) me to tidy up my

room.

5. As long as one group(prepare) dinner, the others(collect) wood for their

campfire.

6. While the parents(have) breakfast, their children(run) about.

7. Martha(turn) off the lights and(go) to bed.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1. I (jog) in the park, when two squirrels (cross) my way.

2. Robert (fall) off the ladder when he (pick) cherries.

3. Archimedes (discover) the theory of buoyancy while he (take) a bath.

4. When we (travel) around Ireland, we (meet) some very nice people.

5. While she (speak) on the phone, the milk (boil) over.

6. When I (leave) the house this morning, the sun (shine) .

7. Caroline (burn) her hand when she (iron) her clothes.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1. When I (get) up yesterday, the sun (shine) .

2. It (is) a beautiful morning.

3. So I (decide) to cycle around a little.

4. I (go) to the shed and (take) out my bike.

5. While I (cycle) past some villages, I (see) some people in their gardens.

6. One man (mow) the grass while his wife (pick) strawberries.

7. After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly (appear) and it (start)

to rain.

8. Luckily, a farmer (notice) me and (tell) me to come in.

9. While it (rain) outside, I (sit) in the farmer's house.

10. After a while, the sun (come) out again.

11. I (thank) the farmer for his hospitality and (move) on.