Simple Past – Past Progressive

Form

Simple Past Past Progressive

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs past form of 'be' + ing form of verb

I was speaking
I spoke
you were speaking

regular verbs: verb + ed he / she / it was speaking

we were speaking
I worked they were speaking

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

 when the final letter is e, only add d.  silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: love - loved Example: come - coming

but: agree - agreeing

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

Example: admit - admitted  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)  final l is always doubled in British English (not in American

Example: travel - travelled English)

Example: travel - travelling

 after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - he worried  final ie becomes y.

but: play - he played 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 one after another or at the same
time?

Simple Past Past Progressive

at the same time

after another
Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watching
She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e- TV.
mails.
 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 new action and Past Progressive for the action already in
progress.

Simple Past Past Progressive

action already in progress

new action
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)
My mobile rang (while I was sitting in a meeting.)

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 to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a
certain time?

Simple Past Past Progressive

just mentioning emphasising progress

Colin played football yesterday. Yesterday 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.

 Signal words

Simple Past Past Progressive

 first  while

 then  as long as

 If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)

Exercises on Simple Past and Past Progressive

Exercise 1
1. While Tom (read) , Amely (watch) a documentary on TV.

2. Marvin (come) home, (switch) on the computer

and (check) his emails.

3. The thief (sneak) into the house, (steal) the jewels

and (leave) without a trace.

4. Nobody (listen) while the teacher (explain) the tenses.

5. While we (do) a sight-seeing tour, our friends (lie) on the

beach.

6. He (wake) up and (look) at his watch.

Exercise 2
1. The receptionist (welcome) the guests and (ask) them to fill in
the form.

2. The car (break) down and we (have) to walk home.

3. The boys (swim) while the girls (sunbathe) .

4. My father (come) in, (look) around and (tell) me to

tidy up my room.

5. As long as one group (prepare) dinner, the

others (collect) wood for their campfire.

6. While the parents (have) breakfast, their children (run) about.

7. Martha (turn) off the lights and (go) to bed.

 Exercise 3
1. We (wait) for Jane, when suddenly Louis (come) around the
corner.

2. I (cycle) through the park, when I (hear) a strange noise.

3. He (pass) her a message when the teacher (look / not) .

4. I (fall) asleep while I (watch) TV last night.

5. When Mike and Jane (paint) the walls, their dog (knock) over
the paint pot.

6. Tom (break) his leg when he (play) frisbee.

7. The phone (ring) when I (sit) on the toilet.

Exercise 4
1. I (jog) in the park, when two squirrels (cross) my way.

2. Robert (fall) off the ladder when he (pick) cherries.

3. Archimedes (discover) the theory of buoyancy while he (take) a

bath.

4. When we (travel) around Ireland, we (meet) some very nice

people.

5. While she (speak) on the phone, the milk (boil) over.

6. When I (leave) the house this morning, the sun (shine) .

7. Caroline (burn) her hand when she (iron) her clothes.

Exercise 5
1. Two days ago, a murder (happen) in Market Street at about seven pm.

2. Yesterday, Sherlock Holmes (arrive) at the crime scene to investigate.

3. He (ask) one of the tenants in the house.

4. »What (do / you) yesterday at seven?«

5. »I (watch) a football match on TV.«

6. » (be) you alone?«

7. »Yes, I (be) .«

8. » (hear / you) anything suspicious?«

9. »Yes, about seven o'clock, two people (argue) in the hallway. But the
football match (be) so interesting. So I just (turn) up the telly
and then (hear / not) anything anymore.«