We can use either the present perfect simple or continuous for situations that started in the past and still continue. We were playing volleyball with mary when you called me. But we must use the present perfect simple with stative verbs, and we normally use the present perfect continuous with dynamic verbs although the present perfect simple is also possible. This exercise focuses on the difference between the past simple and the past perfect. Present perfect progressive present perfect continuous read the situations below and write a sentence using the present perfect progressive tense to say how long the situation has been happening. English esl past simple and past continuous worksheets. Simple past english tenses and english grammar worksheets, grammar rules, grammar exercises. Past continuous tense is very important and past continuous exercises are as important as it is. Past simple common mistakes common mistakes correct version why. We usually use the past simple tense to refer to the shorter action that interrupted the longer background action complete the following sentences using an appropriate past simple or past.
In positive sentences, a helping verb such as was or did is. The first action is a long action it lasted for a period of time. Complete the following sentences using an appropriate past simple or past continuous tense. May be freely copied for personal or classroom use. Yesterday i went to the post office, bought some fruit at the supermarket and read a book in the park in the afternoon. Exercises past simple, past continuous, present simple and. Last month i was on holiday in ireland with my mum and dad. In each sentence, fill the gaps with one past continuous verb and one past simple verb. As i was walking in the streets of holland, i met an old friend of mine.
Past perfect continuous exercise pdf click here to download this printable exercise in pdf. Present simple, present continuous, past simpleenglish. Pdf present simple vs present continuous past simple. The second action is a short action that has interrupted the first. Past or past perfect simple and progressive complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verb. English esl past simple and past continuous worksheets most. The short action in past simple often interrupts the longer action in past continuous.
Worksheet 2 past continuous i using my mobile phone you listening to music he eating a sandwich at 8pm. Past simple or past continuous worksheet 1 grammarbank. So by just knowing past continuous tense formula one cannot just understand the differences between both these tenses. Complex test simple present or present progressivecontinuous. I to take took a shower, then i to get dressed got dressed and to leave left. I looked out of the window and saw that people were walking in the park. Oct 04, 20 to talk about a longer background action which was going on when something else happened, we use the past continuous tense. Past perfect and past perfect continuous choose the past perfect, or the past perfect continuous 1. Students often get confuse in past continuous tense that whether they have to use waswere or isamare. We watching tv they swimming was 2 write questions. When we talk about two past events, the past continuous is normally used to refer to the longer background action.
Verb tenses tutorial exercise 1 simple present present continuous 1. Past continuous is used to describe action that were in progress still happening not finished at a certain time in the past. Past tense simple is used to describe actions that happened in the past. Test comprising exercises with present simlpe, present continuous. Past continuous d past simple b fill the gaps using the verb in brackets in the past continuous and past simple. Present simple vs present continuous past simple presentation o. You can do the exercises online or download the worksheet as pdf. Heres an interactive exercise about the past simple and past continuous tenses choose the correct tense. Wendy learn japanese for 10 years before she moved to japan. Present simple present continuous past simple grammar guide and exercises to practice the use of present simple, present continuous and past simple. To talk about a longer background action which was going on when something else happened, we use the past continuous tense. The past perfect progressive in english exercises for intermediate and advanced level esl.
Nov 26, 2018 past perfect continuous exercise pdf click here to download this printable exercise in pdf. Past continuous and past simple page 2 of 3 test english. The simple past and the past continuous multiple choice test. Worksheet 2 past simple and past continuous 1 complete the sentences with the correct past simple or past continuous form of the verbs in brackets. Multiple choice questions and complete the sentences exercise about past tenses. Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980s, technology change. When the teacher came in, they were studying english. Complete the sentences below by putting the verb in brackets into the past perfect simple or past perfect continuous. Past simple, past perfect and past continuous brickfield.
Past simple or past continuous worksheet 1 answers. The simple past and the past continuous multiple choice. When i was walking walk through bologna i thoughtwas thinking think about the wonderful times i had spent spend there as a student. Lets look at some sentences with verbs in the past form past simple and present form present simple to better understand the meaning the past form adds and why speakers choose to. Simple past vs past continuous exercise grammarbank. Present perfect continuous past perfect continuous. Verb tenses tutorial exercise 1 simple present present. The car came out of the side road and then the van drove into the back of it.
Present simple vs past simple ed when do people use the past form. We usually use the past simple tense to refer to the shorter action that interrupted the longer background action. Before the exercise,there is a small tip about these thre. I to eat was eating cornflakes while dad to read was reading the newspaper. The past continuous describes a longer action or situation and the past simple describes a shorter action or event. To say how many times to talk about a recent action which might not be finished to talk about life experience when the result is more important to explain the side effects of an activity. Use the simple past with a completed past time period. Choose simple past or past continuous tense to complete the sentences. Past simple or past continuous exercise esl lounge student.
Simple past worksheets free english online grammar exercises. Past simple past continuous past perfect simple answers a 1. With the simple past, the exact time of the past action or event is given or understood. When i met susan she was having a drink at a terrace with a friend. She wasnt knowing didnt know that i was watching watched her while she was singing. Answers to past simple or past continuous exercise 2 1. Helen do her weekly shopping when she meet her old friend, june. It was time for lunch, so we stopped at a restaurant. Fill each gap with a verb in either the past simple or past continuous tense. Oct 04, 2017 fill in the blanks with an appropriate past tense form. Use the present perfect with a time period that has not ended yet. So by just knowing past continuous tense formula one cannot just understand the differences between both these. Complete the sentences with the past simple or the past continuous forms of the verbs in brackets. Home page grammar exercises preintermediate past simple or past continuous exercise.
Simple past worksheets english online grammar exercises. This worksheet comprises the common mistakes my students do during the years of my teaching. Exercise put the verbs in brackets in past perfect continuousprogressive. Complete the following text with the past simple of the past continuous forms of the verbs in brackets. It was raining when we came out of the shopping centre. May and might modals of probability must necessity numbers. Present perfect progressive present perfect continuous. To talk about two simultaneous short actions we use simple tenses. Present perfect continuous past perfect continuous answers a 1. They had already left already leave the village before the sun rose rise. What characteristics and interests did elyse and paula have in common. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate past tense form.