Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 14 · A2

I was doing (past continuous) and I did (past simple)

Use the past continuous (was/were + -ing) for the longer thing that was already in progress, and the past simple (did) for the complete action that happened in the middle of it or after it.

Start the lesson

9Steps · about 14 minutes

In this lesson

One thing in progress, another thing happensA1 screen of questions
Complete action or unfinished actionB1 screen of questions
Put it together+3 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 2

One thing in progress, another thing happens

Holly was ironing a shirt. The doorbell rang. She stopped ironing and opened the door.

Question Answer Tense
What happened? The doorbell rang. past simple
What was Holly doing when the doorbell rang? She was ironing a shirt. past continuous
What did she do when the doorbell rang? She stopped ironing and opened the door. past simple

Holly started ironing before the doorbell rang. So: when the doorbell rang, she was ironing. The shirt, one assumes, waited.

  • Holly was ironing a shirt when the doorbell rang.
  • When the doorbell rang, she stopped ironing.
  • She opened the door.

Point A · Exercise 14.1

Read each scene and put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or past simple. In number 1 the first verb has been done for you.

  1. Lewis is carrying a heavy wardrobe up the stairs. Next, the wardrobe is lying at the bottom of the stairs and Lewis is holding his back.

    Lewis hurt (hurt) his back last Saturday. It (happen) while he (carry) a wardrobe up the stairs. He (drop) it near the top.

  2. A ferry comes into the harbour. Ravi walks off it. His cousins Asha and Dev are on the quay, holding a big sign that says "Welcome Ravi".

    The ferry (come) into the harbour and Ravi (walk) off. His cousins, Asha and Dev, (stand) on the quay with a big sign.

  3. Callum is riding his bike through the park. He meets Ellie, who is on her way to the dentist and is eating a toffee. They stop and talk for ten minutes.

    On Monday Callum (cycle) through the park when he (see) Ellie. She (go) to the dentist and she (eat) a toffee. They (chat) for ten minutes.

Point B of 2

Complete action or unfinished action

Past simple (did): a complete action, from beginning to end.

A: What did you do on Saturday afternoon? B: We played golf. (from 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock: we started, we finished)

Past continuous (was doing): an unfinished action, in progress at a particular time.

A: What were you doing at 3 o'clock? B: We were playing golf. (we had started, and we had not finished)

  • Dad read the whole newspaper on Sunday.
  • Dad was reading the newspaper when I came downstairs.
  • Did you watch the match last night?
  • Were you watching the match when I texted you?
  • It didn't snow at all while we were in Scotland.
  • It wasn't snowing when we set off.
  • My shift began at seven and ended at three. At ten o'clock I was serving customers.
  • It was raining when we left the cinema.
  • I saw Ben and Kelly this morning. They were queuing outside the post office.
  • Grandad fell asleep while he was watching the snooker.

Point B · Extra practice

Put the verb into the past simple (did) or the past continuous (was/were doing).

  1. What you at eight o'clock last night? (do)

  2. We the whole fence on Sunday, from ten until four. (paint)

  3. I tea when the phone rang. (make)

Put it together · Exercise 14.2 · part 1 of 3

Put the verb into the past continuous or the past simple.

  1. Example

    A: What were you doing (you / do) when the lights went (go) out? B: I was cooking (cook) tea.

    AnswerWhat were you doing when the lights went out? I was cooking tea.

  2. A: Was Ryan busy when you called round? B: Yes, he (paint) the kitchen.

  3. A: What time (the taxi / arrive) last night? B: It (come) while we (eat) our pudding.

  4. A: Was Lauren at school today? B: No, she (not / go) to school. She had a cold.

  5. A: How fast (you / go) when you (fall) off your bike? B: I'm not sure, but I (not / go) very fast.

Put it together · Exercise 14.2 · part 2 of 3

Put the verb into the past continuous or the past simple.

  1. A: (you / enjoy) the barbecue on Saturday? B: It rained all day, so we (not / have) it.

  2. A: How (you / cut) your hand? B: I (chop) onions. The knife (slip) and I (cut) my thumb.

  3. A: (you / see) Tariq at the party? B: Yes, he (dance) with his gran.

  4. A: What (you / do) at six o'clock this morning? B: I was still in bed.

Put it together · Exercise 14.2 · part 3 of 3

Put the verb into the past continuous or the past simple.

  1. A: My car (break) down on the way home last night. B: How (you / get) home? A: I (walk) the last two miles.

Lesson 14 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: I have done (present perfect 1)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. One thing in progress, another thing happens–Not checkedB. Complete action or unfinished action–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked