Tuesday, 16 September 2025

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.


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.


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.


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.


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