Past Tenses
Using Past Simple and Past Progressive
Écoutez le texte du cours.
🎧 Read/Listen first
Last weekend, I went to the beach with my friends. We had a great time. While we were swimming, it started to rain. We quickly went to a café. I ordered a hot chocolate while my friends had coffee. We talked about our plans for the next weekend. It was a fun day despite the rain.
⚡ Learning goals
- Understand past simple and past progressive
- Use past tenses in conversation
- Describe past activities clearly
🔑 Key language
- I went to the beach. Last weekend, I went to the beach.
- We were swimming when it rained. We were swimming when it started to rain.
- I ordered a hot chocolate. I ordered a hot chocolate at the café.
🌍 Global comprehension
AI writing analysis
Task: Write about a fun day you had last weekend.
Use past simple and past progressive in your answer.
Success criteria: Clear description of activities and use of past tenses.
- went
- swimming
- started
- ordered
- talked
- 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. It is often used with time expressions like 'last weekend'.
- I visited my grandmother last week.
- They watched a movie yesterday.
- She finished her homework.
- Using present tense instead of past. → Always use past forms.
- Forgetting time expressions. → Include words like 'yesterday' or 'last week'.
🟣 Using Past Progressive
Rule:
The past progressive describes actions that were ongoing in the past. It is often used to set the scene.
- I was reading when she called.
- They were playing soccer at 3 PM.
- We were having dinner when the phone rang.
- Using past simple instead of past progressive. → Use 'was/were + verb-ing' for ongoing actions.
- Forgetting to use 'was' or 'were'. → Always include 'was' or 'were'.
🟣 Combining Past Simple and Past Progressive
Rule:
Use past simple for completed actions and past progressive for ongoing actions in the past.
- I was studying when my friend called.
- They were walking when it started to rain.
- She was cooking while he was cleaning.
- Mixing tenses incorrectly. → Use past simple for completed actions.
- Forgetting to connect actions. → Use 'when' or 'while' to connect.
🟣 Using Time Expressions
Rule:
Time expressions help clarify when actions happened. Use words like 'last week', 'yesterday', and 'when'.
- I went to the park last Saturday.
- She called me yesterday.
- We were eating when it started to rain.
- Not using time expressions. → Always include time words.
- Using vague time references. → Be specific about when.
🧩 Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
Last weekend, I went to the beach. We were swimming when it started to rain. I ordered a hot chocolate at the café.
Why this matters:
Using past tenses helps describe what happened in the past clearly.
Verb & Adjective Pack:
Practice using past simple and past progressive to talk about your experiences.
AI oral analysis
Oral task: Write about a fun day you had last weekend.
Use past simple and past progressive in your answer.
Success criteria: Clear description of activities and use of past tenses.
- went
- swimming
- started
- ordered
- talked
- past simple
- past progressive
🚀 Quick challenge
Listen to the model, repeat aloud, then retry to improve your score.
AI Conversation Mission
You are talking about your weekend with a friend.
- Describe what you did last weekend.
- Use past simple and past progressive.
- Ask your friend about their weekend.
Use time expressions to clarify your story.