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?   j ^ continuom) He was reading a book. J
What did he do when the phone rang? 1 ,$t sjmpie)
He stopped reading and answered the phone. |
Jack began reading before the phone rang. So: When the phone rang, he was reading.
he began reading
-HE WAS READING
the phone		he stopped		he answered
rang i		reading		the phone i
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.
• 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
14.2
I did (past simple):
UNITS 11-12
I was doing (past continuous) :
while
EXERCISES
Look at the pictures and put the verbs in the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
Carol Jr^......(break) her arm last
week. It........................................................(happen)
when she........................................................(paint)
her room. She........................................................
(fall) 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.
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:
(study).
It................................................................(come) while I..
Was Margaret at work today?
jost / arrive) this morning? ...................................................(have) breakfast.
nee
.............................................................................(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.
I was asleep.