Diferencia Entre Pasado Simple Y Pasado Progresivo

Form
Simple Past | Past Progressive |
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbsI spokeregular verbs: verb + edI workedEl pasado simple es una acción que empieza Y termina en el mismo momento, NO hay prolongación | past form of 'be' + ing form of verbI was speaking
you were speaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speakingBE = AM / ARE/ IS WAS / WEREIAM I WASHE/SHE/IT IS HE/SHE/ITWE WEYOU ARE YOU WERETHEY THEY |
Exceptions |
Exceptions when adding 'ed' : * when the final letter is e, only add d. Example: love - loved * after a short, stressed vowel, the finalconsonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted * final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelled * after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worried
but: play - he played | Exceptions when adding 'ing' : * silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing *after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: sit - sitting * final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelling * final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying |
See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Progressive
Use
After another or at the same time?
Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened oneafter another or at the same time?
Simple Past | Past Progressive |
after anotherShe came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails. | at the same timeSimon was playing on the computer while his brother was watching TV. |
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 newaction and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.
Simple Past | Past Progressive |
new actionMy mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.) | action already in progressWhile I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.) |
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 doyou want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?
Simple Past | Past Progressive |
just mentioningColin played football yesterday. | emphasising progressYesterday 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.

1) Write pas
2) t simple or past continuous in the gaps:
1) When the post man (arrive), my father (have a shower)
2) While my brother (study), my grandma (make) some muffins
3) I (go) to the doctor 2 days ago because I (have) a terrible headache
4) When I (be) 10, I (eat) a sandwich every evening
5) He (miss) thetrain because he (talk) with some friends
6) The thieves (come) into the house while the man (sleep)
7) I (drink) a glass of water at eleven. I'm not thirsty now
8) you (write) the composition last week?
9) My mother (not/be) at home when she (fall) down the stairs
10) The children (plant) a tree when their mummy (call) them
2) Write the most suitable words in each gap (ago, yesterday,...