GRAMMAR: SIMPLE PAST & PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE

I’ts Time to Learn Grammar

Simple Past & Past Progressive Tense

        I.            SIMPLE PAST TENSE

1.      Simple past tense in regular verbs is formed by adding ed to the infinitive;

Infinitive: to work                 Simple past: worked

Verb ending in e add d only

Infinitive: to love                   Simple past: loved

2.      The negative of regular and irregular verb is formed with did not (didn’t) and the infinitive:

Examples:     

a)     I didn’t work.

b)     You did not work.

3.      The interrogative of regular and irregular verb is formed with did + subject + infinitive:

Examples:

a)     Did I work?

b)     Didn’t you work?

        I.            PAST PROGRESSIVE/PAST CONTINUOS TENSE

It is used for:

1.      Describing someone was in the middle of doing something in a certain time in the past.

Examples:

a)     I was sleeping at 08.30 last night.

b)     They were working hard in the morning.

c)      Shalikha was studying English last night.

2.      Describing something happened in the middle of something else. We use subordinators when/while to indicate that two conditions or event occur at the same time.

a)     I was walking to school, when I met Ana.

b)     The phone rang as she was having breakfast.

c)      Zuhdi left while Marry was studying.

      The event mentioned in the when clause is instantaneous or shorter duration than the condition described in the main clause.

      The conditions described in the while clause is of equal or longer duration.

      When is sometimes used in a place of while. However, while can never be used in a place of when.

3.      The form of ‘was/were going to’ can used to state the wishes in the past but it was not done.

a)     I was going to publish my book. (but I don’t)

b)     They were going to have a camping. (but they didn’t do it)

The pattern of Past Progressive:

I, He,She + was + Verb-ing + while/when + verb 2

You, We, They + were + Verb-ing + while/when+ Verb 2

 

Sources:

Ira Wijayanti dkk. Be Smart in English

Herman Benyamin dkk. English School for Future

Betty S Azar. Understanding and Using English Grammar 

Edited by: Ms. Muzhidah, S.Pd