Past Simple and Past Continuous

Past Simple

Function
1 We use the Past
simple for states and
actions which happened
in the past. We often
say when the action
happened.
I saw someone famous
yesterday.
2 The action can be
short or long, single or
repeated.
I dropped the glass and
it broke on the floor.
He took the train to
work every day.
3 We also use the Past
simple to talk about
states in the past.
When I was young, I
loved playing with my
toys.

Positive form

Negative
form

Question
form

I / you / he / she /
it / we / they
worked

I / you / he / she /
it / we / they
didnt (did not)
work

Did I / you / he /
she / it / we /
they work?

I / you / he / she /
it / we / they left

I / you / he / she /
it / we / they
didnt
(did not) leave

Did I / you / he /
she / it / we /
they leave?

Regular verbs:
base form + -ed
irregular verbs:
see list of
irregular verbs
on page 155

From New Cutting Edge Intermediate (p.145)

Regular and
irregular verbs:
subject+ didn't
(did not) +base
form

Regular and
Irregular verbs:
did+ subject
+ base form

Past Continuous

Function

Positive
form

Negative
form

Question
form

I / he / she / it
was working

I / he / she / it
wasnt
working

Was I / he /
she / it
working?

you / we / they
were
working

you / we / they
werent
(were not)
working

Were you /
we / they
working?

1 We use the Past Continuous for

actions in progress at a time in the
past.
I was living in London then.
Sometimes this includes a specific
time or another (completed past
action).
We were having breakfast at eight
o'clock.
I heard the news on the radio while I
was driving home.
2 The Past continuous often
describes the situation or the
background to a story. We use the
Past simple for the main events.
The sun was shining and I was
walking along the road. Suddenly
someone shouted to me ...
3 Sometimes the Past continuous
action is interrupted.
They were talking about me when I
walked in the room. (=they stopped
talking)
4 We use the Past continuous for
actions we see as incomplete.
I read a book about Italy. (= I read it
all)
I was reading a book about Italy on
the plane. (= I probably didn't read it
all)

From New Cutting Edge Intermediate (p.145)