Past Continuous x Past Simple

A great way to help your students understand how to use the Past Continuous with the Past Simple, is to play videos showing funny situations. You can use America's Funniest Videos or Candid Camera. Make sure to select appropriate clips where no one was harmed or hurt.


You can guide your students during the first clip by explaining that a longer action in the past was interrupted.  Then ask them concept questions (e.g. "What happened to the cat?", "What was the cat doing?").
Finally, tell your students to write or produce the sentences by themselves ( e.g. "The cat was walking when a bird hit him.").




Students will  have a lot of fun during this activity!