CGC Upper-Intermediate W6V3 Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Don’t Panic English

Past Simple vs. Past ContinuousCommunicative Grammar Course Upper-Intermediate Week 6 Video 3 - Practice

How should you use the practice video

First, I’m going to give you some practice exercises.

You’ll have a short time to give your answer.

After 3-4 seconds, I’m going to give you the answers.

How should you use the practice video

The last task is always really communicative.

I’m going to present you the exercise with an example.

After that, you need to work on your own at home.

Our VIP members can record themselves on video and upload the video in the Communicative Grammar Course VIP fb group where our teachers are going to correct you and give you really useful feedback.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

1. Just as I ______ into the bath the fire alarm _____ off.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

1. Just as I was getting into the bath the fire alarm went off.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

2. Helen _____ her leg while she _____ in Switzerland.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

2. Helen broke her leg while she was skiing in Switzerland.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

3. We _____ when I _____ in a music shop.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

3. We met when I was working in a music shop.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

4. When his mother _____ in the other direction Steve _____ away quietly.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

4. When his mother was looking in the other direction Steve slipped away quietly.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

5. I _____ a drink while I _____ for James to arrive.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

5. I ordered a drink while I was waiting for James to arrive.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

6. Our guests were early. They _____ as I _____ changed.

PRACTICE TASK 1Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

arrive/get go/get meet/work look/slip wait/order ski/break

6. Our guests were early. They arrived as I was getting changed.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

She _____ the door and _____ down quickly.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

She closed the door and sat down quickly.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

I _____ the windows as soon as it _____ to rain.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

I shut the windows as soon as it started to rain.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

I'm sorry, I _____ . I _____ about Jim.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

I'm sorry, I wasn’t concentrating. I was thinking about Jim.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

It was an amazing coincidence. Just as I _____ to Anna, she _____ to my house to come and see me.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

It was an amazing coincidence. Just as I was writing to Anna, she was driving to my house to come and see me.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

When the taxi _____ I _____ my suitcase on the back seat.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

When the taxi came I put my suitcase on the back seat.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

He _____ the cake out of the oven and _____ it carefully on the table.

PRACTICE TASK 2This time, use the SAME tense in both spaces.

close/sit come/put not concentrate/think shut/start take/place write/drive

He took the cake out of the oven and placed it carefully on the table.

Communicative Grammar Exercise

1) Do the exercise in speaking at home.

2) Always say the sentences aloud.

3) If you’re a VIP member, record a video about yourself.

4) Upload the video in the Communicative Grammar Course VIP fb group.

5) Our teachers are going to watch your video and will give you feedback.

6) You can watch other students’ videos and read the teachers’ comments there. It’s really helpful.

Communicative Grammar Exercise

Our VIP members are going to get more tips how they can be a more fluent speaker of English.

COMMUNICATIVE GRAMMAR EXERCISEHere are the first lines of five stories. Write a few more sentences to set the scene. e.g. The birds were singing and a lovely breeze was blowing off the lake. John was sitting on the jetty fishing. He was thinking about…1. When we left the hotel it was a fine evening…2. The office was in a terrible state this morning…3. When I arrived the party had already started…4. It was a beautiful spring morning…5. I only left the kids for a minute and when I got back…

COMMUNICATIVE GRAMMAR EXERCISEChoose two story beginnings and talk about the scenes.

1. When we left the hotel it was a fine evening…2. The office was in a terrible state this morning…3. When I arrived the party had already started…4. It was a beautiful spring morning…5. I only left the kids for a minute and when I got back…

Upper-Intermediate Week 6 Video 3

This is the end of this week’s grammar lessons. We can’t wait to see you in the fb groups. See you next week when we’re going to learn about

Upper-Intermediate Week 6 Video 3

COMPARISONS Next week we’re going to dive deeper in the topic of.

See you soon.