Lesson

Grammar match: THE SIMPLE PAST vs. PRETERITE: BE + -ING

SIMPLE PAST

PRETERITE: BE + ING

SYNTAX

* Affirmative:
-> Regular verbs: BV + -ED
eg. We played football.

-> Irregular verbs: please learn them
eg. We ate a sandwich.

* Questions & negation: use the auxiliary DID.
eg. Did you play football?
eg. No, we didn't play (did not play) football.

* All forms (regular & irregular verbs):
we use the auxiliary BE in the past(WAS/WERE) + base form ending in -ING:

eg.
Were you playing football?
Yes, we were playing football.
No, we weren't (were not) playing football.

MAIN USE

A short action, which took place in the past. It is often dated.
eg. In 1998, I went to Spain.

An action in the past, which was being done, when another short action interrupted it.
eg. I was having a bath when the phone rang.

> TEST

Choose the right tense (simple past / BE + -ING) :
a) Last week, I _________________ (buy) a new car.

b) Sarah _______________________ (do) her homework when you __________________________ (arrive).

c) What ________________ you ___________________ (do) last summer?

d) Peter ________________ (not to go) to school: he __________________ (be) too tired.

> ANSWERS:

a) Last week, I BOUGHT a new car.

b) Sarah WAS DOING her homework when you ARRIVED.

c) What DID you DO last summer?

d) Peter DIDN'T GO to school: he WAS too tired.