For an action that started and ended in the
past. *I saw a ghost last Friday.
For a repeated action in the past.
*When I was young, I watched lots of
television every day after school.* *I always
gave my mother flowers on her birthday.
*(We could also say, I used to watch lots of
television.)
Regular past simple tense verbs end in -ed
*I talked to my uncle yesterday. *I
phoned my girlfriend this morning.
Irregular past simple tense verbs do not end in -ed.
You need to learn irregular past tense verbs. *I felt
sick yesterday morning so I went to the doctor.
PAST CONTINUOUS
PAST CONTINUOUS
past continuous tense is used:
When talking about TWO actions
in the past; one continues for a
period, and the other starts and
ends (past simple).
*While I was talking on
the phone, someone
stole my car. *I was
making breakfast when
the cat knocked over the
milk carton, so I burnt
the toast.
These sentences
usually use while or
when.
To talk about TWO
actions in the past,
both happening over
a period. *I was
working on my
computer and my
children were
watching television.
To talk about a
TEMPORARY activity
taking place over a
limited time. The
past continuous
tense is was / were +
the present
participle.
I was living in
Indooroopilly
when it
happened. *I
was staying at
my friend's
house while
my parents
were touring
Italy
The present participle is
the base of a verb + ing i.e.
walk walking