Past Simple and Past Continuous Explanation TIPB 2025

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1,2

Today's Programme

Past Simple and Past Continuous

Lesson Objective:

- You can distinguish between the two tenses and know when to use which. 

Welcome

Past Simple

& 

Past Continuous

Past Simple
(signal words, use, form, etc.)

I .............. to my neighbour yesterday.

1. talk
2. was talking
3. talked
4. were talking

What are the signal words for the Past Simple?

1. for, yet, never, ever
2. yesterday, last year, ago, when
3. always, often, usually, never
4. right now, at the moment

Past Continuous
(signal words, use, form, etc.)

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

Very short moment

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

Longer period of time

Very short moment

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

Longer period of time

Very short moment

Past Simple

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

Longer period of time

Very short moment

Past Simple

Past Continuous

Anne was reading an exciting book, when the doorbell rang.

('aan het' lezen)

Longer period of time

Very short moment

Past Simple

Past Continuous

We ................... a good movie when the phone rang.

1. watched
2. have watched
3. were watching
4. are watching

It was raining.

(past continuous)

We were singing.

(past continuous)

What are the signal words for the Past Continuous?

1. when, while
2. always, never, ever, often
3. right now, at the moment
4. yesterday, last week

Past Simple / Past Continuous

Quick Overview

Quick Overview

I was watching a film when the bell rang.

Past Continuous

Past Simple & Past Continuous

I _______________ (wait) for the bus when it _______________ (start) to rain. 

I .... (wait) for the bus when it ... (start) to rain.

Past Simple & Past Continuous

I WAS WAITING (wait) for the bus when it STARTED (start) to rain. 

Past Continuous & Past Continuous

While we ______________________ (walk) the dog, the neighbours _______________ (wash) their car. 

While we ... (walk) the dog, the neighbours ... (wash) the car.

Past Continuous & Past Continuous

While we WERE WALKING (walk) the dog, the neighbours WERE WASHING (wash) their car. 

Past Simple & Past Continuous

 I _________________________ (read) the newspaper, when all of a sudden my cat ___________________ (jump) onto my lap. 

I ... (read) the newspaper, when all of a sudden my cat ... (jump) onto my lap.

Past Simple & Past Continuous

 I WAS READING (read) the newspaper, when all of a sudden my cat JUMPED (jump) onto my lap. 

create.kahoot.it

Do the worksheet

I understand the difference between the Present Simple & Present Continuous ....

1. perfectly!
2. quite well, need to study a bit more
3. not really, I need to study a lot
4. not at all! Can you help me?