SupraEnglish
Grammar
Grammar/Unit 5: Past Simple vs Continuous

Vocabulary

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Interruption

/in-tuh-rup-shun/

"Stopping something."

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Background

/bak-ground/

"Ongoing context."

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Long action

/long ak-shun/

"Continuous."

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Short action

/short ak-shun/

"Simple."

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While

/wyl/

"During time."

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When

/wen/

"At time."

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Simultaneous

/sim-ul-tay-nee-us/

"At same time."

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Storytelling

/stor-ee-tel-ing/

"Narrating."

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Plot

/plot/

"Events."

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Sudden

/sud-en/

"Fast/Unexpected."

Article

The Interruption 💥

We often use both tenses together.

  • Past Continuous: The long, background action.
  • Past Simple: The short action that interrupts it.

Example: "I was having a shower (Long) when the phone rang (Short)."

Use When for the short action, and While for the long action.

  • While I was walking, I saw him.
  • I was walking when I saw him.

Practice

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1.

I was eating when he ___ (call).

2.

While I ___ (sleep), you left.

3.

She broke her leg while she ___ (ski).

4.

When the teacher arrived, we ___ (talk).

5.

I ___ (see) an accident while I was waiting.

6.

The light went out when I ___ (read).

7.

We use Past Simple for...

8.

We use Past Continuous for...

9.

___ use 'While' with...

10.

He fell while he ___ (run).

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