Simple Past and Past Progressive

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Form of Simple Past

	Positive	Negative	Question
no differences	I spoke.	I did not speak.	Did I speak?

For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed	Example
after a final e only add d	love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled	admit – admitted travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i	hurry – hurried

Use of Simple Past

§ action in the past taking place once, never or several times
Example: He visited his parents every weekend.
§ actions in the past taking place one after the other
Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
§ action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
§ if sentences type II (If I talked, …)
Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.
Signal Words of Simple Past
yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday
PAST PROGRESSIVE
The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.
Form

	Positive	Negative	Question
I / he / she / it	I was speaking.	I was not speaking.	Was I speaking?
you / we / they	You were speaking.	You were not speaking.	Were you speaking?

Exceptions in Spelling

Exceptions in spelling when adding ing	Example
final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed)	come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled	sit – sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English)	travel – travelling
final ie becomes y	lie – lying

Use of Past Progressive
§ puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past
Example: He was playing football.
§ two actions happening at the same time (in the past)
Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.
§ action going on at a certain time in the past
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
Signal Words of Past Progressive
§ when, while, as long as

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