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Lesson 9

Setting the Scene: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

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Hello! We've just finished our first module on the fundamentals of sentence structure, ending with how to use the active voice to make your writing more direct and powerful. That skill is a perfect bridge to our next big topic, because now we're going to start building stories.

Welcome to our second module, Narrating the Past. Over the next few lessons, we'll explore the tools you need to tell engaging stories set in the past. Today, we'll start with the two most essential tenses for any storyteller: the past simple and the past continuous. You'll learn how to use them together to set a vivid scene and describe the key actions that unfold within it. This is the foundation for writing the compelling monologues and short stories you're interested in.

Two Tenses, Two Jobs

When we tell a story in the past, we need to do two things: describe the main events and describe the background scene. English has two tenses that are perfect for these two jobs.

  • Past Simple: This is for main events — the short, completed actions that move the story forward. Think of them as the key plot points.
    • Example: He opened the door. The phone rang.
  • Past Continuous: This is for the background scene — the longer, ongoing actions or situations that were happening when the main events occurred. It paints a picture for the reader.
    • Example: The sun was shining. I was listening to music.

This image is a great example. The detective asks a question using the past continuous to establish the background situation, and the Grim Reaper answers with what he was doing at that specific time.

A detective asks the Grim Reaper, "What were you doing at the time of the murder?" The Grim Reaper replies, "I was watering my beautiful flowers?" both using the past continuous to describe an ongoing past action.

The real magic happens when you combine these two tenses. Using only the past simple can make a story feel flat and robotic. Mixing in the past continuous adds depth and makes the timing of events much clearer.

Let's watch a video that demonstrates this perfectly.

Make stories interesting with the past continuous - a Mini English Lesson

This mini-lesson from the British Council masterfully explains the idea of "background" and "foreground" in a story. It shows you the same story told twice—once with only past simple, and once with both tenses.

Pay close attention to the difference in feeling between the two versions: First, watch the introduction to the concept of background and foreground. Listen to the story told using only the past simple. Notice how it feels like a simple list of events. Now, listen to the much-improved version that uses both past continuous and past simple. See how the past continuous sets the scene for the main decision.

The difference is clear, right? The second version feels like a real story because we understand the context (he was living in London, he wasn't enjoying his life) before the main event happens (he made a decision).

How to Use the Tenses Together

Now that you've seen the effect, let's break down the main ways storytellers combine these tenses.

  1. Setting the Scene: As we saw in the video, we often start a story with the past continuous to paint a picture of what was happening.

    • Example: "The sun was shining and everyone was hurrying to work. Michael decided to take a different route."
      The ongoing background actions (was shining, was hurrying) set the stage for the main event (decided).

  2. Interrupting an Action: This is a classic storytelling technique. We use the past continuous for a longer background action and the past simple for a shorter action that interrupts it.

    • Example: "She was crossing the street when a car suddenly appeared."
      The long action is "crossing the street," and the short, interrupting action is the car appearing.

  3. Describing Simultaneous Actions: You can use the past continuous for two or more actions that were happening at the same time.

    • Example: "While I was cooking dinner, my brother was watching TV."
      Both actions were in progress at the same time.

To see these techniques used in a real narrative, let's look at another example.

A stern-looking cartoon woman peers into a bucket, from which a mouse's tail is hanging out. This image sets a scene for a potentially funny or dramatic story.

This image is a moment from the short story you're about to hear. Let's see how the past simple and past continuous work together to tell us what happened.

Short Stories using Past Simple vs Past Continuous

This video from Golden Oak Private School tells a simple story that perfectly illustrates how the tenses interact.

Watch the second story, titled "Who ate my chicken?", from the beginning to the moment the chicken disappears. Listen for how the speaker uses the past continuous to describe what was happening in the kitchen before the past simple action of the phone ringing.

Did you notice how the story was built?

  • Scene-setting: "I was cooking in the kitchen. The sun was shining..." (Past Continuous)
  • Interrupting Action: "...Suddenly the telephone rang." (Past Simple)
  • Result: "...when I came back... the roast chicken wasn't on the stove anymore." (Past Simple)

This combination creates a clear sequence of events and adds a bit of suspense.

Creative Writing Task: Setting Your Scene

Now it's your turn to be the storyteller. Your task is to set a scene that is interrupted by a sudden event.

Your Main Event:

Suddenly, all the lights went out.

Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing what was happening right before the lights went out. Use the past continuous to build the scene. What were you doing? What was happening around you? What sounds were you hearing?

Take a few minutes to write your paragraph.

...

Example Answer:

Here’s one possible way to set that scene. Your version will be unique, but it should use the same grammar principle.

I was sitting on my bedroom floor, trying to finish my math homework. Outside, the rain was hammering against the window, and I was listening to my favorite playlist to block out the noise. My brother was shouting at his video game in the next room. Suddenly, all the lights went out.

See how the past continuous sentences create a busy, noisy scene? It makes the sudden silence and darkness of the main event much more dramatic.

Conclusion

Fantastic work today! You've learned how to handle two of the most fundamental tools for telling a story in English. By understanding the difference between the "main event" (past simple) and the "background scene" (past continuous), you can now start to build narratives with more depth and clarity.

Key Takeaways:

  • Use the past simple for completed actions that form the main plot of your story.
  • Use the past continuous to set the scene, describe background actions, and show what was in progress when a main event happened.
  • Combining them allows you to show interrupted actions, simultaneous events, and create a much more engaging narrative.

This is the first step in mastering past narration. In our next lesson, we'll add another layer of time to your stories by learning how to use the past perfect tense to talk about events that happened before the main past timeline.