Business English A2 · Lesson 8A

Grammar Bank

The rules behind this lesson — form, use, model sentences and the mistakes to avoid.

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Grammar focus of this lesson

past simple vs. past continuous (setting the scene)

2 structures

Past simple (regular and irregular)
For finished actions at a finished time in the past.
I've got this
Rules & form
- ›Regular: + ed → worked, started, arrived (study → studied, stop → stopped).
- ›Irregular: go → went, have → had, make → made, say → said.
- ›Negative and questions: didn't / did + base verb.
- ›Time words: yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago.
Examples
- “We launched the product last March.”
- “She didn't send the invoice.”
- “Did you speak to the supplier?”
Watch out · After didn't / did, use the base verb: didn't went ✗ → didn't go ✓.
Your own example
Past continuous
An action in progress at a moment in the past.
I've got this
Rules & form
- ›was / were + verb-ing.
- ›Used for background, atmosphere and interrupted actions.
- ›Also for annoying repeated past habits: He was always losing his keys.
- ›Question: What were you doing at six?
Examples
- “At nine this morning I was still reviewing the numbers.”
- “They weren't listening when I explained the risk.”
- “What were you doing when the alarm went off?”
Watch out · State verbs stay simple: I was knowing ✗ → I knew ✓.
Your own example