The past simple gives a completed event; the past continuous gives an action in progress at a past moment.
Was or were plus ing can establish the background.
When can connect a short event to that background.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
I was reading when the lights went out.
Moderate / Add a little
They were walking home when they saw a puppy.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
The past simple gives a completed event; the past continuous gives an action in progress at a past moment. Was or were plus ing can establish the background. When can connect a short event to that background. Choose forms for their meaning, rather than making every verb continuous.
Place each event on a simple timeline before choosing the verb. Explain whether it is completed, in progress or connected to now. Link events only when the relationship is clear. A short narrative benefits from a setting, an important event and a result, rather than a string of unrelated action words.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
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This links an earlier action or experience to now.
Use the past simple with a finished time such as yesterday.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
I have finished.
Moderate / Add a little
She has finished her homework.
Challenge / Try when ready
She finished it yesterday, but she has not checked it yet.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
The present perfect connects an earlier experience with now. Use have or has plus a past participle. Ever asks about any time before now; never means no experience before now. A definite finished time usually calls for the past simple instead. Keep have or has in questions and negatives.
Place each event on a simple timeline before choosing the verb. Explain whether it is completed, in progress or connected to now. Link events only when the relationship is clear. A short narrative benefits from a setting, an important event and a result, rather than a string of unrelated action words.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
Look for a change across the pictures, then explain why it matters.
Establish the characters and place before telling the important events.
Pronouns reduce repetition if their reference stays clear.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
The children were at the beach when they found a bottle.
Moderate / Add a little
They opened it carefully and discovered a map inside.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
Look for a change across the pictures, then explain why it matters. Establish the characters and place before telling the important events. Pronouns reduce repetition if their reference stays clear. Add a suitable ending, but avoid inventing details that contradict the pictures. Use linking words to guide the listener through the sequence.
Place each event on a simple timeline before choosing the verb. Explain whether it is completed, in progress or connected to now. Link events only when the relationship is clear. A short narrative benefits from a setting, an important event and a result, rather than a string of unrelated action words.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
The paid worksheet brings together all the lessons in this unit. A separate answer or model guide is included. Page count depends on the skills and activities.
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