Simple Past vs Past Continuous – Free Interactive English Grammar Lessons

Do you know the difference between “I read a book” and “I was reading a book”? This free lesson series explains exactly when to use the simple past and when to use the past continuous. You will learn that the simple past describes a completed action, while the past continuous describes an action that was already in progress at a specific moment in the past. You will also practise using the two tenses together in sentences with when and while — one of the most useful grammar structures at this level.

Each lesson introduces eight target verbs and gives you plenty of practice with seven interactive exercises: identify the tense, multiple choice, matching, gap fill, word order, word sort, and a complete-the-conversation activity. All exercises have instant feedback so you can check your answers and try again straight away. There are eight lessons in total, each using a different set of everyday verbs, so you get thorough and varied practice throughout. No sign-up needed — just start learning.