Past Simple and Past Continuous

Use the past simple for a finished action or series of actions in the past

The doorbell rang so I put down my book and answered the door.

To talk about an action in progress when another shorter action happened, use the past continuous for the action progress. Use the past simple for the short action. This action can interrupt or stop the longer action.

I was reading my book when the doorbell rang.

Notice difference between these two sentences:

He was speaking when the phone rang.
He spoke when the phone rang.

Past Continuous

Use the past continuous to talk about actions in progress at a time in the past.

She was living in Berlin 1990s.

Form the past continuous with the past form of be + the -ing form of the main verb.

We were travelling to Mexico.
We were not travelling to the United States.
Were you travelling to by the car?

Time Expressions

We often use time expresions with the past continuous e. g. then, in + year, at + time, at that time.

Past Simple

Use the past simple to talk about actions and situations that are finished.

David and I trained for the marathon last year.

We often say when the action happened, e.g. in (+year/month), on (+day) or at (+time).

The first modern Oliympics were in 1896.
I watched a great documentary on Sunday.
We arrived at two o'clock.

The past form of the verb be is was or were.

We were here last night.
I was not at the school this morning.

With other verbs, we use just the main verb in affirmative past simple statements. Regular past simple vers add -ed to infinitive.

train - trained, watch - watched

The past simple verb does not change , i.e. it is the sane after I, you, he, she, it, we and they.

! Note these spelling changes:

• Verbs ending in -e, add -d: die - died, live - lived
• Verbs ending in vowel + consonant, double the consonant and add -ed: stop - stopped.
• Verbs ending in consonant + -y, change -y to -ied: study - studied, marry - married.

Many common verbs in the past simple are irregular.

Use did to form past simple negatives and questions.

The race did not start on time.

Did she win the London Marathon?

Time Expressions

We often use time expressions with the past simple, e.g. ago, last night (week/ month/ year), yesterday.

We moved to this house two years ago.

Vocabulary

1. Types of Weather
   blizzard, drought, fog, hurricane, ice, rain, snow, storm, sun, wind.
2. Weather Adjectives
   bright, clear, cloudy, cold, cool, dark, dry, fine, foggy, hot, humid, mild, rainy, snowy, stormy, sunny, warm, wet, windy.
3. Activites
   horse riding, mountain biking, scuba diving, sea kayaking, skiing, snorkelling, snowboarding, trekking, white-water rafting, wildlide watching
4. Modifiers
   extremly, quite, really, very

Personality Adjectives

chatty, cheerful, clever, confident, creative, dedicated, determined, friendly, hard-working, helpful, honest, horrible, inspirational, kind, lazy, lovely, miserable, nice, patient, polite, proud, quiet, rude, shy, sociable, stupid, talented, unfriendly

Time Expressions

afterwards, at first, at the moment, then, until.

Key Language

Agreeing or Disagreeing

So do I. Neither do I. Do you? I do not. Do not you? I do.

Asking About People

What's he/she like?

What does he/she look like?

What does he/she like?

Describing People

He seems (honest and shy)

She certainly is not (chatty)

He's (hard-working)

She's got (short brown hair)

He looks like (that actor)

She wears (nice clothes)

He likes (watching sport on TV)

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Use the present simple for regular actions and the present continuous for actions progress.
Present Simple: It rains every day in winter.
Present Continuous: It is not raining at he moment.

We use both the present simple and present continuous with verbs that describe actions (action verbs), e.g. rain, work, play.
The children play with their friends on Saturdays.
The children are playing football now.

Some verbs describe states (state verbs) such as feelings and situations, e.g. be, want, believe, know, understand, like. These verbs do not usually have a continuous form.

I want a drink. +
I am wanting a drink. -

Some verbs can be state or action verbs, e.g. think.
I think this city is beautiful. (= this is my opinion.)
I am thinking about what to wear. (=deciding.)

Present Continuous

Use the present continuous to describe an action happening now or around now.
We are having an English lesson at the moment.

Use the present continuous also describe a changing situation.
The weather in the UK is definitely getting hotter.

Form the present continuous with the auxiliary be+ the -ing form of the main verb.
I am trying to finish this exercise.
He is not staying with us right now.
Is it raining? Yes, it is/No, it is not

We usually just add -ing to end of the main verb, but note these spelling changes:

• Verbs ending -e, remove -e and add -ing: Live => Living
• Verbs ending in vowel + most consonants, double the consonant and add -ing: get => getting, travel = travelling

Time Expressions

We often use time expresions with the present continuous, e.g. now, today, currently, these days.

We are staying at a frienn's house at the moment.

Present Simple

Use the present simple to talk about facts and things that are generally true.

It rains a lot in Britain

Use the present simple also to talk about regular actions and habits.

We have a skiing holiday every winter.

Formation

With the present simple of the verb be, use am, is or are in affirmative statements, questions and negatives. 

He is always very friendly.

Are you interested in travelling?

I am not often here at the weekends.

With the present simple of other verbs, use the verb on its own in affirmative statements.

They work in the same office as me.

!Remember to add -s to the main verb after he/ she / it.

Peter lives in a really big house.

Note these spelling changes after he/ she/ it.

• Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -z, -x or -o, add -es:
  wash => washes
• Verbs ending in consonant + -y, change -y to -ies:
  carry => carries
• The verb have becomes has after he/ she/ itAfrica has a lot of problems.

Use do/does to form the negative and questions.

We do not live near here.

Does your country have a lot of storms?

Present simple short answers use do/does.

Yes, it does. No, it does not.

Use do/ does or am/ is/ are to form questions with no who, what, when, where, how, why, which.

When does winter start here?

What is your name?

Advers and Time Expressions

We often use adverbs frequency with present simgle, e.g. always, often, sometimes, never. The adverb comes after verb be, but before other verbs.

It is never really hot in Scotland.

It does not often snow in London.

We can also use time expressions with the present simple, e.g. every day, once a week, every year. We usually put these at he end of the sentence.

The news is on BBC at 6.00 every evening.