Page 64 - Grasp English B1+ (Student Book)

5 A Mysterious Case

Grammar 1 Past simple vs. past continuous

A. Label the following sentences as past simple C. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs
or past continuous. in brackets.
1. The boy threw a baseball to me.
2. The baby was crying all night long.

I 1 (walk) to the bus stop when
We often use these two tenses together. I suddenly 2 (realise) that I had
e.g. left my keys at home! I quickly 3
The children were playing cheerfully when I (run) back to my house. When I 4
arrived home. (arrive) at my house, I was very nervous. I
5 (look) near my door, around
In the sentence above, we see that the verb
‘play’ is the background action and the verb the pavement, and under the car. I couldn’t
‘arrive’ interrupts it. However, when we use find them anywhere!
simple past in both sentences, the meaning 6 (search) everywhere for my
changes. Compare the two sentences below: keys when I 7 (hear) a voice call
my name. “Jennifer?” said the voice. “Yes?” I
e.g. replied. I turned around and saw my next-door
When I arrived home, they started fighting. neighbour. He 8 (hold) my keys
(First, I arrived, then they started fighting.)
in his hand! “I found these on the pavement.
When I arrived home, they were having lunch. Here you go!” he said and handed the keys to
(They had already started lunch before I me. “Thanks so much!” I replied and ran off to
arrived.) catch the bus.

Note D. Read the sentences and fill in the gaps with the
Remember that stative verbs correct form of the verbs in brackets.
are not used in past continuous tense.
e.g. 1. Jason (drive) very fast when the
I wasn’t remembering her phone number policeman (stop) him.
when you asked me. 2. When I (see) Betty, she
didn’t remember (take) her dog for a walk.
3. When the doorbell (ring), my
mother (have) a nap on the sofa.
B. Circle the past simple verbs in the sentences.
Underline the past continuous verbs in the 4. Our neighbours (sleep) in their
sentences. house when the fire (start) last
night.
1. When I was cooking dinner, the phone rang.
2. I was talking to my mother when I heard a 5. Steve (try) to leave the country
strange noise. when the police (arrest) him at
the airport.
6. Tina (fall) asleep while she
(read) a book last night.

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