Past Tenses
Using Past Simple and Past Progressive
Écoutez le texte du cours.
🎧 Read/Listen first
Yesterday, I worked on a new aircraft design. I was thinking about how to improve the engine. While I was working, my colleague called me. He asked about the project. I explained my ideas to him. Later, we discussed the best solutions together. It was a productive day.
⚡ Learning goals
- Understand past simple and progressive
- Use past tenses in sentences
- Talk about past activities clearly
🔑 Key language
- I worked on a project. I worked on the aircraft yesterday.
- I was thinking about improvements. I was thinking about the engine design.
- My colleague called me. My colleague called me during the meeting.
🌍 Global comprehension
AI writing analysis
Task: Write about a project you worked on recently.
Use past simple and past progressive in your answer.
Success criteria: Clear use of past tenses and coherence.
- worked
- thinking
- called
- explained
- discussed
- past simple
- past progressive
✍️ Vocabulary
🧠 Flashcards interactives
Choisissez la bonne réponse, écoutez le modèle, puis répétez à voix haute.
⚙️ Rules & Grammar
🟣 Using Past Simple
Rule:
The past simple describes completed actions in the past. Use it to talk about what happened at a specific time.
- I worked on the project yesterday.
- She called me last week.
- They finished the report.
- Using present tense instead of past. → Always use past forms for past actions.
- Forgetting to add 'ed' to regular verbs. → Remember to add 'ed' for regular verbs.
🟣 Using Past Progressive
Rule:
The past progressive describes actions that were ongoing in the past. Use it to show what was happening at a specific time.
- I was working when he called.
- They were discussing the project.
- She was thinking about solutions.
- Using past simple instead of progressive. → Use 'was/were + verb-ing' for ongoing actions.
- Forgetting to use 'was' or 'were'. → Always include 'was' or 'were'.
🟣 Combining Past Simple and Progressive
Rule:
Use past simple for completed actions and past progressive for ongoing actions. This helps show the sequence of events.
- I was working when he called.
- She was thinking while they discussed.
- They finished the project after I was working.
- Mixing tenses incorrectly. → Use past simple for completed actions and progressive for ongoing.
- Forgetting to connect actions clearly. → Use conjunctions to connect ideas.
🟣 Using Time Markers
Rule:
Time markers help clarify when actions happened. Use words like 'yesterday', 'last week', and 'when' to indicate time.
- I worked yesterday.
- She called last week.
- They were discussing when I arrived.
- Not using time markers. → Always include time markers for clarity.
- Using vague time expressions. → Be specific about the time.
🧩 Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
I worked on the project yesterday. I was thinking about improvements when my colleague called me.
Why this matters:
Using past tenses helps describe actions clearly.
Verb & Adjective Pack:
Practice using past simple and progressive in your sentences.
AI oral analysis
Oral task: Write about a time you worked on a project.
Use past simple and past progressive in your answer.
Success criteria: Clear use of past tenses and coherence.
- worked
- thinking
- called
- explained
- discussed
- past simple
- past progressive
🚀 Quick challenge
Listen to the model, repeat aloud, then retry to improve your score.
AI Conversation Mission
You are discussing a project with your coach.
- Describe what you worked on recently.
- Explain your ideas clearly.
- Ask for feedback on your project.
Use clear time markers.