Sometimes it’s not clear which tense you need to use to talk about events in the past. In most cases, you would use the past simple or past continuous.
The big difference between these tenses is that the past simple is used to talk about short, simple actions and habits in the past. The past continuous is used for long actions or when the action was going on at a particular moment in the past.
Past simple or past continuous exercise
This is an exercise in which you need to choose between the past simple and past continuous. Look at the context and make sure you know the difference between long and short actions.
You can find the exercise below:
Past Simple or Past Continuous Exercise 2
Complete these sentences by filling in the correct form of the verb in the past simple or past continuous.
1.
His computer (to explode) while we (to talk) on Skype.2.
Our friend (to be) involved in an accident when he (to be) little.3.
He (to explain) everything really well and he (to use) hand gestures.4.
We (to go) to school by bike, even when it (to rain).5.
He always (to eat) a banana after school while he (to watch) TV.6.
My cousin (to steal) a bike once when he (to be) still in school.7.
She (to enjoy) the view when a bird (to poop) on her head.8.
(you, to hit) on that girl when she (to hit) you in the face?9.
The boss (to explain) the plan while he (to smoke) a cigar.10.
I (to take) a shower this morning.