In English, we use the Past Simple to:

  • Describe a finished action in the definite past
    • I didn't sleep well last night.
    • Marie Curie won the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. (this is definite past as we are discussing Curie’s time when she was alive)
  • Describe the order of events
    • I woke up and studied for the medical terminology exam.
    • The doctor heard a noise from the patient's room, so she got up, put on gloves and a mask, and checked on the patient.
  • Describe a past state or habit
    • Before today, I didn’t know what ‘neurology’ meant.
    • Everyday, the med student made breakfast and went to school.

"used to" is also commonly used in English to describe past habits*

We use Past Continuous to:

  • Describe an activity in progress before and probably after a point in time
    • When she called, we were studying anatomy.
    • At 3 am, I was of course, sleeping.
    • I came to the dental hygiene class at 9 am, but the door was closed, and the students were studying.
  • Describe an ongoing action that presents a background or setting to past events
    • I was studying latin roots in my apartment and listening to music.  Suddenly, my phone rang.
    • It was such a beautiful moment. The people were clapping, and the doctors were smiling.
  • To describe a temporary situation or incomplete activity
    • When I had problems with my hearing, I was searching for a good ENT doctor.
    • He was smoking a lot because of the stress.
    • On the flight home, I was reading an article about a bacterium.  (But I didn't read it all)
    • On the flight home, I read an article about a bacterium.  (I finished it)
  • To describe an interrupted activity
    • The students were taking a neurology test when someone knocked on the door.
    • I was taking a shower when the doctor called.
    • Most people were driving to work when the earthquake hit.
  • To describe two past activities that happened at the same time, or one activity that was in progress for all of a period of time
    • In the summer, I was working with a great physician.
    • She was wearing those scrubs all day yesterday.
    • I was sleeping but he was studying x-ray images.
    • He was walking and listening to his med teacher's lecture on his phone.

Exercise

Using what you have learned about past simple and past continuous, complete the activity.

Exercise

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