Answer: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous (C2 Advanced Level)

Answer Key with Explanations

Part A: Choose the Correct Form

1. entered / was talking
   ➡️ "entered" = short action that interrupts; "was talking" = background ongoing action.

2. was preparing / went
   ➡️ She was in the middle of preparing → ongoing. Lights suddenly went out → short completed action.

3. was travelling
   ➡️ Emphasises duration over a period ("at this time last year").

4. never admitted / was cheating
   ➡️ "admit" is a simple completed action (state verb). "was cheating" = ongoing action in progress during exam.

5. were playing / was cooking
   ➡️ Both actions were simultaneous and continuous in the background.

6. was reading / had recommended
   ➡️ Reading = ongoing, background action. Recommendation happened earlier, before reading → Past Perfect.

7. was speaking / interrupted
   ➡️ Speaking = longer action; interruption = short completed action.

8. were always arguing
   ➡️ Past Continuous + always = irritation/annoying habit.

9. didn’t notice / was following
   ➡️ "didn’t notice" = single complete fact; "was following" = background action she failed to see.

10. had started / were dancing
    ➡️ "had started" = action completed before another action; "were dancing" = ongoing background.

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Part B: Rewrite the Sentences

1. ✅ While she was cooking, the phone rang.
   ➡️ Background = cooking; interruption = ringing.

2. ✅ I knew the answer but I was too shy to say it.
   ➡️ "know" is a state verb → not used in continuous.

3. ✅ He dropped the glass while he was washing it.
   ➡️ Washing = ongoing; drop = sudden interruption.

4. ✅ They were always complaining about the service at that restaurant.
   ➡️ Continuous + always = irritation.

5. ✅ We were playing chess while the rain was falling.
   ➡️ Both ongoing simultaneous actions.

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Part C: Error Correction

1. ❌ was met → ✅ met
   ➡️ "meet" = simple past, not passive here.

2. ❌ was entered → ✅ entered
   ➡️ "entered" = short completed action.

3. ❌ were studied → ✅ were studying
   ➡️ "study" needs continuous to show ongoing.

4. ❌ was hearing → ✅ heard
   ➡️ "hear" is a state verb → not normally continuous.

5. ❌ was never liked → ✅ never liked
   ➡️ "like" = state verb, use simple.

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Part D: Mixed Tenses (Challenge)

1. was walking / realised / had left
   ➡️ Background = walking. Realised = short event. Leaving wallet = happened earlier → Past Perfect.

2. were discussing / arrived
   ➡️ Background = discussing. Arrival = interruption.

3. had already finished / asked
   ➡️ Report finished before boss asked → Past Perfect + Past Simple.

4. was trying / were playing
   ➡️ Trying = ongoing; playing = ongoing disturbance.

5. were sleeping / was still working
   ➡️ Majority = sleeping (background). Narrator = still working.

Advanced Exercises: แบบฝึกหัด Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

Advanced Exercises: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous 

Part A: Choose the Correct Form

เลือกคำกริยาที่ถูกต้องในแต่ละประโยค

1. When I (entered / was entering) the room, everyone (was talking / talked) loudly.

2. She (prepared / was preparing) dinner when the lights suddenly (went / were going) out.

3. At this time last year, I (travelled / was travelling) around Europe.

4. He (never admitted / was never admitting) that he (cheated / was cheating) during the exam.

5. While the children (were playing / played) outside, their mother (cooked / was cooking) dinner.

6. I (was reading / read) a novel that my friend (had recommended / recommended) to me.

7. The teacher (spoke / was speaking) when a student suddenly (interrupted / was interrupting).

8. They (were always arguing / always argued) about money when they were married.

9. She (didn’t notice / wasn’t noticing) that someone (was following / followed) her home.

10. By the time we arrived, the concert already (started / had started), and people (were dancing / danced).

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Part B: Rewrite the Sentences

เปลี่ยนประโยคเหล่านี้ให้ถูกต้องตามหลัก Past Simple / Past Continuous

1. ❌ While she cooked, the phone was ringing.

2. ❌ I was knowing the answer but I was too shy to say it.

3. ❌ He dropped the glass while he washed it.

4. ❌ They always were complaining about the service at that restaurant.

5. ❌ We played chess while the rain was falling.

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Part C: Error Correction

หาข้อผิดพลาดและแก้ไขให้ถูกต้อง

1. When I was walking to school, I was met an old friend.

2. She was crying when her mother was entered the room.

3. While they were studied, the teacher was preparing the exam papers.

4. I was hearing a strange noise outside while I was working.

5. He was never liked going to the gym, even when he was young.

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Part D: Mixed Tenses (Challenge)

เติมคำกริยาที่ถูกต้อง (Past Simple / Past Continuous / Past Perfect)

1. I __________ (walk) home when I suddenly __________ (realise) I __________ (leave) my wallet in the café.

2. They __________ (discuss) the issue when the manager __________ (arrive).

3. He __________ (already finish) the report when his boss __________ (ask) for it.

4. While I __________ (try) to study, my neighbours __________ (play) loud music all night.

5. At midnight, most people __________ (sleep), but I __________ (still work) on my assignment.

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous (C2 Advanced Level)

บทเรียนภาษาอังกฤษ: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous (C2 Advanced Level)

1. รูปแบบประโยค (Forms)

🔹 Past Simple

โครงสร้าง: Subject + V2 (regular/irregular)

• ใช้เล่าเหตุการณ์ที่เสร็จสิ้นในอดีต (completed actions in the past).

ตัวอย่าง

• She went to Bangkok yesterday.

• They discussed the proposal last Monday.

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🔹 Past Continuous

โครงสร้าง: Subject + was/were + V-ing

• ใช้บรรยายเหตุการณ์ที่กำลังดำเนินอยู่ ณ ช่วงเวลาหนึ่งในอดีต (an action in progress at a particular moment in the past).

ตัวอย่าง

• At 8 pm, she was having dinner.

• The students were working on their essays all evening.

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2. การใช้งาน (Usage)

2.1 ฉากหลัง (Background) + เหตุการณ์แทรก (Interrupting Action)

• Past Continuous = ฉากหลัง

• Past Simple = เหตุการณ์สั้น ๆ แทรกเข้ามา

ตัวอย่าง

• She was cooking when the phone rang.

• I was walking home when it suddenly started to rain.

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2.2 เหตุการณ์เกิดขึ้นพร้อมกัน (Simultaneous Actions)

• ใช้ Past Continuous ทั้งคู่

ตัวอย่าง

• While I was reading, my brother was listening to music.

• The crowd was cheering while the players were celebrating.

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2.3 พฤติกรรมหรือสิ่งที่ทำบ่อยในอดีต (Past Habits)

• ใช้ Past Simple

ตัวอย่าง

• We always played football after school.

• She often visited her grandmother on Sundays.

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2.4 การแสดงความรำคาญ (Irritation / Annoying Habits)

• ใช้ Past Continuous + always/constantly

ตัวอย่าง

• He was always complaining about the food.

• They were constantly interrupting the teacher.

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3. ระดับสูง (Advanced Usages & Nuances)

3.1 Descriptive Storytelling

• ใช้ Past Continuous เพื่อสร้างบรรยากาศเหมือนกำลังเล่าเรื่อง/ฉากหลังอย่างมีสีสัน

ตัวอย่าง

• The sun was setting, the birds were singing, and children were playing in the park when the accident happened.

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3.2 Emphasis on Duration (เน้น “ความต่อเนื่อง”)

• Past Continuous ใช้เพื่อเน้นว่ากิจกรรมนั้นกินเวลานาน ไม่ใช่แค่เสร็จแล้ว

ตัวอย่าง

• He was working on his thesis all summer.

• They were arguing for hours before they reached an agreement.

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3.3 Unexpected / Temporary Situations

• Past Continuous บอกถึงเหตุการณ์ที่ไม่ปกติหรือไม่คาดคิด

ตัวอย่าง

• Everyone was behaving strangely at the meeting.

• I was feeling unwell that day, so I stayed home.

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4. ข้อยกเว้น (Exceptions)

4.1 State Verbs (กริยาที่ไม่ใช้ Continuous)

• เช่น know, believe, understand, want, need, like, love, hate, seem, belong, own

• ปกติจะไม่ใช้ใน Past Continuous เพราะเป็นการบรรยาย “สภาพ/ความรู้สึก” ไม่ใช่ “การกระทำ”

❌ I was knowing the answer.
✅ I knew the answer.

แต่ใน ภาษาอังกฤษขั้นสูง บางครั้ง state verbs ก็ใช้ใน continuous ได้เพื่อ เน้นความรู้สึกชั่วคราว

• I was loving the show last night! (พูดแบบไม่เป็นทางการ เน้นอารมณ์ขณะนั้น)

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4.2 Short Actions ไม่ใช้ Past Continuous

• ถ้าเป็น action สั้น ๆ ที่ใช้เวลาเพียงชั่วขณะ จะไม่ใช้ Past Continuous
  ❌ She was dropping the glass.
  ✅ She dropped the glass.

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4.3 Mixed Tense for Clarity

บางครั้ง Past Continuous ใช้พร้อมกับ Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous เพื่อให้ timeline ชัดเจนขึ้น

ตัวอย่าง

• I was reading the book that she had given me.

• They were exhausted because they had been working all day.

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4.4 Past Continuous for Politeness

• ใช้ Past Continuous เพื่อให้คำพูดสุภาพหรือนุ่มนวลกว่า Past Simple

ตัวอย่าง

• I was wondering if you could help me. (สุภาพกว่าการใช้ I wondered…)

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5. การเปรียบเทียบ (Summary Table)

ทำแบบฝึกหัดตรงนี้เลยนะคะ ลิงก์แบบฝึกหัดอยู่ตรงนี้ค่ะ

Exercise: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous (C2 Advanced Level)