Uso De Pasado Continuo

Simple Past vs Past Progressive (or Continuous)
Form
Simple Past
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of
irregular verbs

Past Progressive
past form of 'be' + ing form of verb

I spoke

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

regular verbs: verb + ed
I worked
Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed' :


when the final letter is e, only add
d.Exceptions when adding 'ing' :


Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing

Example: love - loved


after a short, stressed vowel, the
final consonant is doubled

silent e is dropped (but: doesnot
apply for -ee)



after a short, stressed vowel, the final
consonant is doubled

Example: admit - admitted
Example: sit - sitting


final l is always doubled in British
English (not in AmericanEnglish)



final l is always doubled in British
English (not in American English)

Example: travel - travelled
Example: travel - travelling


after a consonant, final y becomes
i. (but: not after avowel)
Example: worry - he worried
but: play - he played



final ie becomes y.
Example: lie – lying

Use
After another or at the same time?
Do you want to express that the actions in the pasthappened one after another or at the
same time?
Simple Past
after another

Past Progressive
at the same time

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

Simon was playing on thecomputer 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
new action

Past Progressive
action already in progress

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

While I wassitting 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 do you want...