šÆ Learning Objectives
- Distinguish between completed past actions (Past Simple) and ongoing past actions (Past Continuous)
- Use Past Simple and Past Continuous correctly with time connectors 'when' and 'while' to describe past events in business situations
- Recognize the correct formation of Past Simple (including common irregular verbs) and Past Continuous
- Demonstrate understanding by forming accurate sentences about past work activities and interruptions
We use the Past Simple and Past Continuous to talk about things that happened in the past.
Past Simple
Form: Subject + verb-ed (regular verbs) / irregular form (e.g., go ā went, see ā saw)Negative: Subject + did not (didn't) + base form of verb
Question: Did + subject + base form of verb?
Use:
ā¢ For actions that started and finished in the past
ā¢ When we say when an action happened (specific time)
Time expressions: yesterday, last week/month/year, in 2020, two days ago, at 3 PM
Past Continuous
Form: Subject + was/were + verb-ingNegative: Subject + was/were + not (wasn't/weren't) + verb-ing
Question: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?
Use:
ā¢ For actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past
ā¢ For a longer background action that was interrupted by a shorter action
ā¢ To describe two actions happening at the same time in the past
Time expressions: while, when, as, all morning, at 5 o'clock yesterday
š Key Learning Tip: Think of the Past Continuous as the "background scene" or a longer, ongoing action. The Past Simple is often a "sudden event" or shorter action that happens in the middle of that scene or interrupts it.
š Describing Project Milestones: "We were developing the software when we identified a critical bug."
š Meeting Minutes: "Ms. Davis was presenting the sales figures when Mr. Lee asked a question."
š Explaining Schedule Changes: "I was planning my weekly tasks when my manager assigned me to an urgent client issue."
š¤ Networking Follow-ups: "You were talking about expanding into new markets when I introduced myself."
š» Troubleshooting IT Issues: "While I was trying to log in, the system crashed multiple times."
ā Answering "What happened?": "I checked our system while I was speaking to them and resent it immediately."
ā Correct Professional Usage
ā Common Business Mistakes
Listen to Maria Rossi, Office Manager, telling her colleague Tom about some issues from yesterday:
Audio: Maria's Chaotic Day
"Hi Tom, got a moment? Yesterday was a bit chaotic!
In the morning, everything seemed normal. I was organizing the schedule for next week's client visits. While I was inputting the data into the calendar, the main printer suddenly stopped working. Just like that! Of course, several people needed to print urgent documents. So, I spent about an hour trying to fix it. I was checking all the connections when I realized it was completely out of toner.
Then, around lunchtime, Mr. Henderson from Sales came to my desk. He was looking for the quarterly expense forms. He said he couldn't find them on the shared drive. While he was explaining the issue, the fire alarm started beeping! It wasn't a drill; someone burnt popcorn in the kitchen. We all had to evacuate. Thankfully, it was only for about ten minutes.
When we got back, I helped Mr. Henderson find the forms. Later in the afternoon, while I was preparing for the staff meeting, I noticed we were running low on coffee supplies. So, I quickly placed an order. It felt like I was constantly dealing with one small problem after another! I was glad when 5 PM arrived."
a) She was fixing the toner
b) She was talking to Mr. Henderson
c) She was organizing the schedule and inputting data
a) The printer caused a fire
b) Someone burnt popcorn in the kitchen, setting off the fire alarm
c) Mr. Henderson couldn't find important forms
Exercise A: Gap Fill (5 questions)
Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Past Continuous form of the verb in brackets:
1. The marketing team _______ (discuss) new campaign ideas when the director _______ (walk) in.
2. She _______ (work) on the financial report all day yesterday.
3. We _______ (not receive) the package because the courier _______ (deliver) it to the wrong address last Monday.
4. What _______ you _______ (do) when the power _______ (go out) this morning?
5. He _______ (send) the important email, and then he _______ (take) a coffee break.
Exercise B: Word Order/Sentence Building (3 questions)
Put the words in the correct order to make sentences:
1. I / when / presentation / the / preparing / was / the / client / arrived / .
2. My / manager / calmly / handled / a / difficult / situation / yesterday / .
3. The / system / crashed / computer / while / I / was / working / .
Exercise C: Choose the Correct Form (3 questions)
Choose the correct verb form to complete each sentence:
1. The team (celebrated / was celebrating) when they (heard / were hearing) the good news.
2. I (read / was reading) an industry report when my colleague (asked / was asking) me for help.
3. At 3 PM yesterday, the CEO (gave / was giving) a speech to all employees.
Use these topics to prepare for speaking practice with your teacher
Speaking Tasks - Prepare these topics for practice with your teacher:
Tell your teacher about two things that happened yesterday at work. Use: "I was [verb-ing] when [Past Simple event happened]."
Preparation tips: Think of ongoing activities and interrupting events.
Imagine you were in an important online meeting and something interrupted you. Explain to your manager what happened.
Framework: "We were discussing [topic] when suddenly [interruption happened]..."
Tell your teacher about a memorable day from a past project. Describe what your team was doing and what significant things happened.
Use both tenses naturally to create a narrative flow.
š Lesson Summary for Teachers
Grammar Focus: Past Simple vs Past Continuous in business contextsKey Challenge: Students often confuse when to use each tense, especially with 'when' and 'while'
š„ Speaking Practice Guidance:
Task 1: Students should prepare examples from their own work experience. Monitor for correct "was/were + -ing" forms. Common errors: "I work when he called"
Task 2: Help students structure explanations logically using 'when' and 'while'. Focus on time connectors and natural flow.
Task 3: Encourage natural storytelling flow combining both tenses. Don't over-correct; focus on tense accuracy and coherent narrative.
š§ Common Student Errors to Watch:
ā¢ Using Present Simple instead of Past Continuous for ongoing actions
ā¢ Incorrect irregular verb forms (go-went, not go-goed)
ā¢ Confusion with stative verbs (I was knowing ā I knew)
ā¢ Wrong connector usage ('while' with Past Simple)
š” Teaching Tips:
ā¢ Use timeline diagrams to show longer vs shorter actions
ā¢ Practice with real workplace scenarios from students' experience
ā¢ Emphasize the "movie scene" analogy for Past Continuous
ā¢ Drill irregular verbs frequently with business vocabulary
šÆ Key Takeaways:
Past Simple in Business:ā¢ Use for actions completed at a specific time or in sequence
ā¢ Remember common irregular verbs (go-went, see-saw, make-made, take-took)
ā¢ Example: "I finished the report yesterday"
Past Continuous in Business:
ā¢ Use for actions in progress at a specific time or longer background actions
ā¢ Form: was/were + verb-ing
ā¢ Example: "I was attending a meeting at 10 AM"
Together with Time Connectors:
ā¢ 'When' + Past Simple (shorter action) interrupts Past Continuous (longer action)
ā¢ 'While' + Past Continuous describes the background scene
š¼ Professional Study Tips:
ā¢ Review your day using both tenses: "At 10 AM, I was meeting with a client"
ā¢ Read business articles and notice how they describe past events
ā¢ Use flashcards for irregular verbs in business contexts
š Next Lesson Preview: Future Forms Comparison - will, going to, and present continuous for future plans and predictions