Past Indefinite ( Simple)

statement: I/You/He/She/It/We/They played...

negative: I/You/He/She/It/We/They didn't play... question: Did I/you/he/she/it/we/they play... ?

Note: Irregular verbs do not take 'ed in the past simple. Learn the past simple form of irregular verbs.

Use	Example
Single completed actions	Tom and I played a game of chess and he won.
Habits in the past	Did you collect stamps when you were younger?
Permanent situations in the past	A famous footballer lived in our house before we bought it.
General truths and facts about the past	Crosswords didn't become popular until the 1930s.
The main events in a story	The referee blew the whistle and Simon passed the ball to James, who ran towards the goal.

• We can also use did in past simple statements for emphasis.

'Why didn't you win your match yesterday?' I did win. Who told you I didn't?'

We lost 5-0, but at least we did get into the final.

Past Continuous

statement: I/He/She/It was playing... I/You/We/They were playing...

negative: I/He/She/It wasn't playing You/We/They weren't playing.

question: Was I/he/she/it playing... Were you/we/they playing... ?

1. Put the verb in brackets in the correct form.

A. 1.What you (read) when I (come)? — A very interesting detective. I (take) the book from the library yesterday. 2. Ann still (wait) for me when I (arrive). She (get) angry because I (be) late again. 3. Where you (hurry) when I (meet) you? — I (go) to the station to meet my mother. 4. I (drive, not) fast "when the accident (happen). 5. I (come) to the station an hour before the train's departure. While I (wait) for the train I (read) a newspaper. 6. The telephone (ring) when we (have) dinner. My wife (answer) the phone. 7. The students (talk) excitedly when the teacher (come) in, but they (stop) at once when the teacher (speak). He (walk) across the room and (begin) to write questions on the blackboard. While he (write), the students (sit) down, (take) out their pens and (prepare) themselves for the test. The teacher (finish) writing, (sit) down in front of the class and (open) a book. He (read) his book the whole time while the students (answer) the questions. When the bell (ring) at four o'clock, most of them (still, write). The teacher (tell) them to stop working and he (collect) their answer papers. When they (leave) the room he (begin) to correct the papers.

B. . It (be) two weeks before Christmas and Mrs Smith (be) very busy. She (buy) a lot of Christmas cards to send to her friends and to her husband's friends and (put) them on the table in the living-room. Then, when her husband (come) from work, she (say) to him, 'Here (be) the Christmas cards for our friends, here (be) some stamps, a pen and our book of addresses. Will you please write the cards while I am cooking?' Mr Smith (say, not) anything, but (walk) out of the living-room and (go) to his study. Mrs Smith (be) very angry with him but (say, not) anything either. Then a minute later he (come) back with a box full of Christmas cards. All of them (have) addresses and stamps on them. 'These (be) from last year,' he (say). 'I (forget) to post them.'

C. I (get) home at 6 o'clock in the evening. My wife (open) the door for me. 'Good evening, Ted,' she (say). 'Good evening, my dear!' I (answer). 'You (be) tired?' she (ask). 'No,'I (answer), 'I (be, not) tired, but I (be) very hungry.' 'Dinner (be) ready,' she (say).

I (take) off my coat and (sit) down. My wife (sit) beside me. 'You (catch) your train this morning?' she (ask). 'No,' I (answer). 'I (miss) it. I (run) all the way to the station and (get) there four minutes past nine.' 'Which train you (catch)?' 'The 9.15' 'What time you (get) to the office?' she (ask). 'At 10 o'clock!' I (answer). 'At ten o'clock?' my wife (exclaim), 'the boss (be, not) angry?' 'No, he (be, not) at the office,' I (say). 'He (arrive) at 10.30. He (miss) his train, too.'

D. 1. Mary (play) the piano; John (read); my wife (sew) when suddenly we all (hear) a shout. 2. When the doctor (leave) the hospital, he (catch) a glimpse of himself in the glass front door. 3. When her father (come) in she (sit) before a red tea-table, finishing a very good tea. 4. Next day, while he (shave) he (cut) himself slightly. 5. The door of his room (be) open; his mother still (stand) at the window. 6. And, smiling to himself, he (begin) to make plans, fantastic plans for the future. He still (smile) when he (walk) up the rock-cut steps. 7. I (sleep) soundly when the phone (ring). 8. We (sit) on our front porch when Mr Smith (drive) up in his new car. 9. Crosby (cross) the street when the car (strike) him. 10. It (drizzle) when they (come) out of the house. 11. When the World War (break), John (live) in Holland. 12. It (get) dark and I (suggest) that we should go down. 13. John (come) in, (look) at the fire, (stand) a moment, (turn) and (go) away. 14. As I (walk) home yesterday, I (meet) a beggar who (ask) me for some money. 15. We (come) into the dining-room while our parents (eat) supper. 16. She (run) down the stairs and (go) to the library, where her husband (stand) with his mother. 17. Mike (lift) his eyes from the book and (look) out of the window. It still (snow). 18. We (drive) at about forty miles an hour when the accident (happen). 19. You (have) a good time at those parties? 20. A fortnight later Holt (fall) and (hurt) himself when he (ride) his motorcycle. 21. He (go) into the kitchen and (get) himself a cup of coffee. 22. Eric (go) into the library and (sit) down to read the letter. The fire (crackle) merrily in the fireplace, and outside the wind (howl). 23. He (take) a cushion, (put) it behind and (lean) back. 24. At half past four I (put) on the lights. 25. When I (be) a boy, I (want) to be an actor.