1. The Past Simple Tense
We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that started and finished in the past. It's for completed actions.
How to form it:
For regular verbs, we add -ed. For irregular verbs, we use the second form (e.g., go → went, see → saw).
- (+) I watched a movie yesterday.
- (-) She did not (didn't) play tennis last week.
- (?) Did you visit London?
2. The Past Continuous Tense
We use the Past Continuous to talk about actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. The action was not finished.
How to form it:
We use was/were + verb-ing.
- (+) I was studying at 8 PM last night.
- (-) They were not (weren't) sleeping when I arrived.
- (?) Was he working at 10 AM?
3. Past Simple vs. Past Continuous
We often use these two tenses together. The Past Continuous describes the longer, "background" action. The Past Simple describes the shorter action that happened in the middle of the longer action.
Long Action (Past Continuous)
Short Action (Past Simple)
I was watching TV when the phone rang.
(Long action: watching TV. Short, interrupting action: the phone rang.)
While they were playing football, it started to rain.
(Long action: playing football. Short action that happened during: it started to rain.)
Time to Practice!
You learned the rules. Now, test your knowledge with these fun games and activities.
Reading: Ötzi the Iceman
Read a story about the famous Iceman and see the past tenses in action.
Start ActivityQuiz: Past Simple or Continuous?
Choose the correct tense to complete the sentences in this fun quiz.
Start ActivityGame: Choose the Correct Tense
A fast-paced game to test your knowledge of the past simple and continuous.
Start ActivityInteractive Story: A Mystery
Explore an interactive story and make choices. See how tenses create a narrative.
Start Activity