Using the Past Continuous with the Simple Past Tense Lesson
The Past Continuous tense is typically used to describe actions or events that were in progress at a specific time in the past. It sets the scene, emphasizing the duration of the action. On the other hand, the Simple Past tense is used to describe completed actions or events that occurred at a specific time. When these two tenses are used together, the Past Continuous often describes a background action that was ongoing when another action (expressed in the Simple Past) interrupted or occurred simultaneously.
Understanding how to combine these tenses correctly can greatly enhance your storytelling abilities in English, providing clarity about the sequence and duration of past events.
The past continuous tense uses:
was/were + (verb) + ing
was eating or were going
It is used to show something that happened in the past and continued for a while. For example:
From 8:00 to 8:30 I was taking a bath.
We use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense when we want to show that one thing happened in the middle of another thing.
I was taking a bath and the telephone rang.
During a period of time (8:00-8:30) I was taking a bath. At one time (let’s say 8:17) someone called on the telephone.
We can also connect the past continuous and simple past together by using the words when, while, and as.
When I was taking a bath, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang when I was taking a bath.While I was taking a bath, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang while I was taking a bath.As I was taking a bath, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang as I was taking a bath.
Notice if you use when, while, or as at the beginning of the sentence, you need to put a comma (,) after the phrase.
Check Your Understanding
Make a sentence using the words given. Use the past continuous for things that happened over a period of time and the simple past for things that happened a one time. The first one has been done for you.
I
walk down the street (5:00-5:10)
see an old man (5:04)
while
While I was walking down the street, I saw an old man.
I saw an old man while I was walking down the street.
1. Susan
bake a cake (3:45-4:45)
drop a spoon (3:51)
when
2. We
a burglar comes in the house (3:00)
sleep (10:00-6:00)
as
3. George and Tammy
play golf (4:30-6:30)
see a movie star on the golf course (6:01)
and
4. The cat
scratch its ear (12:01-12:02)
a mouse runs by (12:01)
while
Answer Key:
- Susan was baking a cake when she dropped a spoon.; When Susan was baking a cake, she dropped a spoon.
- We were sleeping as a burglar came into the house.; As a burglar came into the house, we were sleeping.
- George and Tammy were playing golf and saw a movie star.
- While the cat was scratching its ear, a mouse ran by.; A mouse ran by while the cat was scratching its ear.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using the Past Continuous with the Simple Past Tense
Use the Past Continuous to describe an ongoing action that was happening at a specific time in the past. It is often used when this ongoing action is interrupted by another action, which is usually described in the Simple Past. For example: “She was watching TV when I arrived.”
Yes, these tenses are often used together to indicate that an action in the Simple Past interrupted an ongoing action in the Past Continuous. For example: “I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.”
Use the Past Continuous to describe an ongoing action that was happening at a specific time in the past. It is often used when this ongoing action is interrupted by another action, which is usually described in the Simple Past. For example: “She was watching TV when I arrived.”
Yes, it is possible when two actions were happening simultaneously in the past. For example: “While I was making breakfast, my brother was taking a shower.”
A common mistake is using the Past Continuous without a specific time frame or another past action to anchor it. This can make sentences confusing. It’s also important to ensure the correct form of the verb “to be” is used for the subject (I was, he/she/it was, we/you/they were).