This document provides a review of the zero conditional and past continuous and simple past verb tenses. It includes examples of forms, uses, and exceptions of each tense. It also lists certain verbs that are usually only used in the simple past tense. The document contains grammar exercises for students to practice using the past continuous and simple past correctly. It concludes with a prompt for students to describe what was happening when it started to rain, either working alone or with a partner.
9. -Sentence adverbs are adverbs that describe the idea of the entire sentence.
-Adverbs usually add –ly to an adjective. (Review lists on p. 152)
Page 14
13. Positive Negative Question
I / you /
he / she / it
we / they
I spoke.
I learned.
I did not speak.
(didn’t)
I did not learn.
(didn’t)
Did I speak?
Did I learn?
Simple Past Forms/Structures
For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, p.151).
For regular verbs, just add “ed”.
14. Simple Past Uses
1. Completed action in the past
Example: He finished his work an hour ago.
2. Completed actions in the past that took place one after the other
Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
3. Action in the past that interrupts another action in progress
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
15. Positive Negative Question
I / he / she / it
was + verb -ing I was speaking. I was not speaking.
(wasn’t)
Was I speaking?
you / we / they
were + verb -ing You were listening. You were not listening.
(weren’t)
Were you listening?
Past Continuous Forms/Structures
16. Past Continuous Uses
1. Describes an action in progress in the past
Example: He was playing football.
2. Two actions happening at the same time in the past
Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.
3. Action going on at a certain time in the past
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
17. Simple Past Past Continuous
irregular verbs: see list of irregular verbs
on p.151
I spoke
regular verbs: verb + ed
I worked
past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
(was/were)+ verb –ing
I was speaking
you were speaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking
Verb Forms/Structures
Simple Past vs. Past Continuous
18. Simple Past Exceptions Past Continuous
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :
when the final letter is ‘e’, only add ‘d’.
Example: love – loved
after a short, stressed vowel, the final
consonant is doubled
Example: admit – admitted
final ‘l’ is always doubled in British English
(not in American English)
Example: travel – travelled
after a consonant, final ‘y’ becomes ‘i’. (but:
not after a vowel)
Example: worry - he worried
but: play - he played
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
silent ‘e’ is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come - coming
but: agree – agreeing
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant
is doubled
Example: sit – sitting
final ‘l’ is always doubled in British English (not in
American English)
Example: travel – travelling
final ‘ie’ becomes ‘y’.
Example: lie - lying
19. Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past
(NOT in the continuous form).
state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We were on holiday.
possession: belong, have
Example: Sam had a cat.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He felt the cold.
feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loved pizza.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I did not understand him.
introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he replied.
20. Use the simple past or past progressive tense.
1. I dropped a cup while I ________________ (wash) the dishes.
2. Jon and Bill were washing the car when they _________________ (see) their friend Alex.
3. Tony came to see me while I __________________ (do) my homework.
4. The children __________________ (play) when their father came home.
5. When Inga was driving, she _____________________ (notice) an animal in the road.
6. Annie _________________ (call) when Kerry was studying.
7. They were waiting for the bus when the accident ___________________ (happen).
8. Caroline ____________________ (ski) when she ________________ (break) her leg.
was washing
saw
was doing
were playing
noticed
called
happened
was skiing broke
24. What was happening? P. 125
Work alone or with a partner!
Read the questions and describe what was
happening when it started to rain.
Then write full sentences describing what was
happening when it started to rain.