MALU TEACHER • UPWARD ENGLISHPast Tenses
SIMPLE PAST + PAST CONTINUOUS
Talk about what happened, what was happening, and how one event interrupted another.
SIMPLE PAST
Finished action: I worked.
Negative: I didn't work.
Question: Did you work?
Finished action: I worked.
Negative: I didn't work.
Question: Did you work?
PAST CONTINUOUS
Action in progress: I was working.
They were working.
Action in progress: I was working.
They were working.
TOGETHER
I was cooking when the phone rang.
I was cooking when the phone rang.
WHEN / WHILE
While I was cooking, the phone rang.
While I was cooking, the phone rang.
Remember: after did / didn't, use the base verb. Past Continuous = was/were + verb-ing.
1
Simple Past
Choose the correct verb form.
2
Build negatives and questions
Rewrite each sentence using the instruction.
3
Past Continuous
Choose the correct form.
4
When or while?
Complete each sentence with when or while.
5
Mix the tenses
Complete with the Simple Past or Past Continuous form of the verbs.
6
Find the mistake
Correct each sentence.
7
Word order
Put the words in the correct order.
8
Complete the story
Use the correct past form of the verbs in parentheses.
9
Connect the ideas
Combine the two ideas using when or while.
10
Make it personal
Answer in complete sentences. Add one extra detail.
WhatsApp Speaking Challenge
Send your teacher a 60-90 second voice message telling a short story about something that happened to you.
Before you record
Write only 4-6 keywords. Do not write a complete script.
Write only 4-6 keywords. Do not write a complete script.
Try to include
3 Simple Past verbs
2 Past Continuous verbs
when or while
one extra detail
3 Simple Past verbs
2 Past Continuous verbs
when or while
one extra detail
After your teacher gives feedback, record the same story again. Try to speak more smoothly instead of adding more information.