I was doing (past continuous) and I did (past simple)
Jack was reading a book.    The phone rang.
He stopped reading.        He answered the phone.
What happened? The phone rang, (past simple) What was Jack doing when the phone rang?
He was reading a book. What did he do when the phone rang?
He stopped reading and answered the phone.
Jack began reading before the phone rang. So: When the phone rang, he was reading.
(past continuous) (past simple)
he began reading
the phone		he stopped
rang		reading
HE WAS READING
he answered the phone
B    past simple
past continuous
A: What did you do yesterday morning? B: We played tennis, (from 10 to 11.30)
end (11 .30)
beginning (10 o'clock)
we played
(complete action)
Jack read a book yesterday. (= from beginning to end)
Did you watch the film on television last night?
It didn't rain while we were on holiday.
i A: What were you doing at 10.30? B: We were playing tennis.
beginning (10 o'clock)
we were playing
(unfinished action)
Jack was reading a book when the phone rang.
Were you watching television when I phoned you?
It wasn't raining when I got up.
I started work at 9 o'clock and finished at 4.30. At 2.30 I was working. It was raining when we went out. (= it started raining before we went out) I saw Lucy and Steve this morning. They were waiting at the bus stop. Jenny fell asleep while she was reading.
14.1
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I did (past simple) =>
I was doing (past continuous)
while
EXERCISES
Look at the pictures and put the verbs in the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
UNIT
14
Carol ..ty^er......(break) her arm last
week. It........................................................(happen)
when she........................................................(paint)
her room. She........................................................
(faU) off the ladder.
The train........................................................(arrive)
at the station and Paula...........................................
(get) off. Two friends of hers, John and
Jenny,........................................................(wait) to
meet her.
Yesterday Sue........................................................
(walk) along the road when she
........................................................(meet) Jim.
He........................................................(go) to the
station to catch a train and he
........................................................(carry) a bag.
They........................................................(stop) to
talk for a few minutes.
14.2    Put the verb into the past continuous or past simple.
1	A:
	B:
2	A:
	B:
3	A:
	B:
4	A:
	B:
5	A:
	B:
6	A:
	B:
7	A:
	B:
8	A:
	B:
9	A:
	B:
10	A:
	B:
	A:
(have) breakfast.
.............................................................................(stop) you?
I don't know exactly but I.............................................................................(not/drive) very fast.
.............................................................................(your team / win) the football match yesterday?
No, the weather was very bad, so we.............................................................................(not/play).
How.............................................................................(you/break) the window?
We.............................................................................(play) football. I..................................................................
(kick) the ball and it.............................................................................(hit) the window.
morningf
(climb) in through a window.
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