Практикум по грамматике английского языка : учебное пособие

PAST CONTINUOUS VS PAST SIMPLE
Past Continuous
Past Simple
1. We use it for an incomplete or 
continuing action in the past
The doctors were looking for a cure. 
(an incom plete action)
I was cleaning my apartment for most 
of the morning. 
( a continuing action)
1. We use it for a single and complete 
action in the past
Alison took the newspapers from 
Andy and walked out of the shop.
(a single action) 
He set his alarm clock for quarter to 
seven. (a com plete action)
2. We use it for an interrupted action 
in the past
When Sue came home, Dick was mak-
ing some tea. 
(Dick was in the middle of making 
some tea. Then Sue came home.)
2. We use it to say that one thing 
happened
When Sue came home, Dick made 
some tea. (Sue came home. Then 
Dick made some tea.)
3. We use it for repeated actions in 
the past with, e.g., always
She was always criticizing people.
3. We use it to talk about past habits 
or regu lar actions in the past
Albert used to work on his grandpar-
ents’ farm in his schooldays.
4. We use it to describe a background 
scene 
I was standing outside the bank. It 
was getting dark and I was feeling 
tired. I was waiting for a woman 
called Joan Smith.
4. We use it to describe past events 
and actions
Suddenly, a woman came round the 
corner and walked right up to me. 
«Are you Steve Berlin?» she asked.
5. -----------------------------------------
5. We also use it with verbs not used 
in the continuous tense
Nobody knew Jack Kennedy com-
pletely. Steve was a fortunate man. J 
always wanted to be an athlete.

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