Exercises - Simple Past vs Past Progressive 4 (MC)
Level A2
Complete each sentence with the simple past or past progressive tense. In each sentence, use both the simple past and the past progressive once.
Grammar rules
The simple past and the past progressive are often used together in a sentence.
This allows us to describe how a shorter event (in the simple past) occurred during a longer-lasting action (in the past progressive).
They were talking about the book when we entered the room.
Longer action: They were talking about the book. (were talking – past progressive)
Short, interrupting action: We entered the room. (entered – simple past)
I found a wallet while I was looking for my cat.
We saw Tim while we were waiting for the bus.
Note:
We use the simple past (not the past progressive) when one action in the past follows another.
Compare:
When Hanna came home, we played a computer game. (Sequence of actions in the simple past: First Hanna came home, and then we played a computer game.)
When Hanna came home, we were playing a computer game. (A shorter event during a longer and ongoing action: When Hanna came home, we were in the middle of playing a computer game.)