🎯
Learning Objectives

What you will learn in this lesson

1
Distinguish past actions

Differentiate between completed actions (Past Simple) and actions in progress in the past (Past Continuous)

2
Use time connectors

Master the use of "when" and "while" to describe past events in a professional context

3
Form tenses correctly

Recognize the correct formation of Past Simple (including irregular verbs) and Past Continuous

4
Apply in professional situations

Construct precise sentences about past work activities and interruptions

📚
Grammar Explanation

Understanding when to use each tense

📘 Past Simple

Formation: Subject + verb-ed (regular) / irregular form (e.g., go → went, see → saw)
Negative: Subject + did not (didn't) + base verb
Question: Did + subject + base verb?
Use:
  • Actions that started and finished in the past
  • When the time of the action is specified
Time expressions: yesterday, last week/month/year, in 2020, two days ago, at 3 PM

📗 Past Continuous

Formation: Subject + was/were + verb-ing
Negative: Subject + was/were + not (wasn't/weren't) + verb-ing
Question: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?
Use:
  • Actions in progress at a specific moment in the past
  • A longer action interrupted by a shorter action
  • Two simultaneous actions in the past
Time expressions: while, when, as, all morning, at 5 o'clock yesterday
🔑 Key Tip: Think of Past Continuous as the "background scene" or an ongoing longer action. Past Simple is often a "sudden event" or shorter action that happens in the middle of that scene or interrupts it.

💼
Professional Context

How to use these tenses in a work environment

📊 Reports and Incidents

📈 "The production line stopped while the engineers were performing routine maintenance."
💻 "We were developing the software when we identified a critical bug."
📝 "Ms. Davis was presenting the sales figures when Mr. Lee asked a question."

💬 Daily Communication

🔄 "I was working on the Q2 report when I received an important call from a supplier."
🤝 "You were talking about expanding into new markets when I introduced myself."
❓ "I checked our system while I was speaking to them and resent it immediately."

💡
Business English Examples

Correct examples and common mistakes to avoid

✅ Correct Professional Usage

"Our team discussed the new strategy yesterday." (Past Simple - completed action at a specific time)
"At 10:00 AM this morning, I was attending an online training session." (Past Continuous - action in progress at a specific time)
"While she was preparing the presentation, her computer restarted unexpectedly." (Past Continuous for background action, Past Simple for interruption)
"He finished the report, and then he emailed it to the client." (Two completed actions in sequence)
"When the CEO entered the room, we were discussing the quarterly budget." (Past Simple for short action during ongoing background action)

❌ Common Business Mistakes

Incorrect: "I work on the report when my boss called."
Correct: "I was working on the report when my boss called."
Incorrect: "She finish the presentation and then she leave the office."
Correct: "She finished the presentation and then she left the office."
Incorrect: "While I talked on the phone, the delivery was arriving."
Correct: "While I was talking on the phone, the delivery arrived."

🎧
Professional Listening Exercise

Listen to Maria Rossi, Office Manager, describe her chaotic day yesterday

🎵 Audio: Maria's Chaotic Day
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
🔊
Speed:

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."

Comprehension Questions

Question 1: What was Maria doing when the printer stopped working?
💡 Hint: Listen to the beginning of Maria's story. She mentions what she was doing "in the morning" when something "suddenly stopped working."
Question 2: Why did everyone have to evacuate the building?
💡 Hint: Listen to the part around lunchtime. Maria says "the fire alarm started beeping" and explains why.
Question 3: Complete the sentence: "Later in the afternoon, while I _____ for the staff meeting, I noticed we were running low on coffee supplies."
💡 Hint: This requires Past Continuous (was + verb-ing). What verb means "getting ready"?

🧠
Quick Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding with these professional scenarios

1. The team _____ the new software when they discovered a major bug.
A) tested
B) was testing
C) were test
2. I _____ my email, and then I _____ for the morning briefing.
A) checked / prepared
B) was checking / was preparing
C) checked / was preparing
3. While the manager _____ the quarterly results, an important client _____.
A) presented / called
B) was presenting / called
C) presented / was calling

✏️
Professional Practice Exercises

Put what you've learned into practice

Exercise A: Gap Fill

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.

💡 Hint: The first action was ongoing (background), and the second action is a short interruption. Use Past Continuous for the longer action and Past Simple for the interruption.

2. She _______ (work) on the financial report all day yesterday.

💡 Hint: "All day" suggests an action in progress over a period of time. Which tense shows an ongoing action?

3. We _______ (not receive) the package because the courier _______ (deliver) it to the wrong address last Monday.

💡 Hint: Both actions are completed facts about the past. "Last Monday" indicates a specific time. Use Past Simple for both (negative: didn't + base verb).

4. What _______ you _______ (do) when the power _______ (go out) this morning?

💡 Hint: The question asks about an ongoing activity that was interrupted. Use "were + doing" for the ongoing action and Past Simple for the interruption (go → went out).

5. He _______ (send) the important email, and then he _______ (take) a coffee break.

💡 Hint: These are two completed actions in sequence (first... then...). Use Past Simple for both. Remember: send → sent, take → took.

Exercise B: Word Order

Put the words in the correct order to make sentences:

1. I / when / presentation / the / preparing / was / the / client / arrived / .

💡 Hint: Structure: "I was [verb-ing] the [noun] when the [noun] [Past Simple verb]." The ongoing action comes first with "when."

2. My / manager / calmly / handled / a / difficult / situation / yesterday / .

💡 Hint: Structure: Subject + adverb + verb + article + adjective + noun + time. Or: Subject + verb + article + adjective + noun + adverb + time.

3. The / system / crashed / computer / while / I / was / working / .

💡 Hint: Structure: "The [noun + noun] [Past Simple verb] while I was [verb-ing]." The sudden event comes before "while."

Exercise C: Choose the Correct Form

📝 Instructions: Choose the correct verb forms from the brackets. Type ONLY the verbs, separated by a space — not the full sentence.
Example: "was celebrating heard" ✓    NOT "The team was celebrating when they heard" ✗

1. The team (celebrated / was celebrating) when they (heard / were hearing) the good news.

💡 Hint: Which action was ongoing when the other interrupted it? The celebration was happening when the news arrived. "Hear" is a state verb that doesn't usually take continuous form.

2. I (read / was reading) an industry report when my colleague (asked / was asking) me for help.

💡 Hint: Reading was the ongoing background action. The colleague's question was the interruption. Use Past Continuous for background + Past Simple for interruption.

3. At 3 PM yesterday, the CEO (gave / was giving) a speech to all employees.

💡 Hint: "At 3 PM" specifies an exact moment in time. What tense shows an action in progress at a specific moment?

🗣️
Speaking Preparation

Prepare these topics to practice with your teacher

Task 1: My Workday Yesterday (1 minute)

Tell your teacher about two things that happened yesterday at work. Use: "I was [verb-ing] when [Past Simple event happened]."

💡 Preparation tip: Think about ongoing activities and events that interrupted them.

Task 2: Explaining an Interruption (1 minute)

Imagine you were in an important online meeting and something interrupted you. Explain to your manager what happened.

💡 Suggested structure: "We were discussing [topic] when suddenly [interruption happened]..."

Task 3: A Story from a Past Project (2 minutes)

Tell your teacher about a memorable day from a past project. Describe what your team was doing and what significant things happened.

💡 Tip: Use both tenses naturally to create a narrative flow.

🎯 Key Points to Remember

1
Past Simple in business: Use for completed actions at a specific time or in sequence. E.g., "I finished the report yesterday."
2
Past Continuous in business: Use for actions in progress at a specific time or as background. E.g., "I was attending a meeting at 10 AM."
3
With connectors: 'When' + Past Simple interrupts the Past Continuous. 'While' + Past Continuous describes the background scene.
Leçon suivante →