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Nina_Nia Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Past simple or past continuous
Hello,
Could you check my corrections, please? In which of these examples is it possible to use either form? For example, in the first sentence maybe the speaker refers to an action that was in progress in the past.
Iwas playing/played computer games yesterday.
What did he do/was he doing yesterday? He read/was reading a book.
My brother didn't play/wasn't playing tennis yeaterday. He played/was playing tennis the day before yesterday.
We washed/were washing the floor in our flat yesterday.
We were washing/washed the floor in our flat from three till four yesterday.
I did/was doing my homework yesterday.
I was doing/did my homework from five till eight o'clock yesterday.
When Tom was crossing/crossed the street, he was falling/fell. (Maybe all are possible?)
We listened /were listening to an interesting lecture yesterday.
I was walking/walked along the street with my friend when a tram passed/was passing.(Here too maybe all will be correct?)
We were answering/answered the teachers's questions when the headmistress entered/was entering the classroom.(And here too)
Thanks
Could you check my corrections, please? In which of these examples is it possible to use either form? For example, in the first sentence maybe the speaker refers to an action that was in progress in the past.
I
What did he do/
My brother didn't play
We washed/
We were washing/
I did/
I was doing/
When Tom was crossing/crossed the street, he was falling/fell. (Maybe all are possible?)
We listened /
I was walking/walked along the street with my friend when a tram passed/was passing.(Here too maybe all will be correct?)
We were answering/answered the teachers's questions when the headmistress entered/was entering the classroom.(And here too)
Thanks
Top answer
g. " What did he do yesterday? He read a book.
- g.
- " What did he do yesterday?
- He read a book.
- " What was he doing yesterday?
- He was reading a book.
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1 Answers
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There are very few verbs that don't have a Continuous form, and so, as you say, either form might be possible in a sentence:
e.g.
" What did he do yesterday? He read a book.
" What was he doing yesterday? He was reading a book.
What you need to understand is when and why we use the Continuous form.
e.g.
" What did he do yesterday? He read a book.
" What was he doing yesterday? He was reading a book.
What you need to understand is when and why we use the Continuous form.
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