A Single Life (Past Simple vs Past Continuous Practice)

Task description & scene summary

Task description:

10 multiple choice questions to practice the past simple vs the past continuous tense.

Featured grammar points:

1. Use the past simple + past simple to talk about a sequence of events.

2. Use the past continuous + past simple combo to talk about an ongoing action that was interrupted by another event.

3. Use the past continuous + past continuous to describe two simultaneous events (=two events that were happening at the same time).

My lesson nicely complements the comprehensive film lesson created by Kieran Donaghy around this short film: http://film-english.com/2018/01/03/a-single-life/

Scene summary:

An animated silent film in which a lady receives a parcel by post. It turns out it's a magical vinyl record that ends up messing up her life.

Video source: A Single Life

Video length: 2 minutes 19 seconds

Video genre: Short film (animated or with human actors)

Lesson type: Grammar practice

Level:

Intermediate (B1)

Student types:

Dialect:

Silent film

Tags:

animated short
past simple tense
past continuous tense
grammar practice
aging
age
getting old
film-english
filmenglish

Vocabulary:

Grammar:

Copyright license: Creative Commons Attribution License

First published: 2017-08-31, 08:12:36 (GMT+1)

About the author

Kisdobos

I am one of the co-founders of iSLCollective.com. I had taught English in many contexts, as a private tutor, then in companies, and in high schools. I am active in creating video quizzes on our video quiz platform.

KIERAN DONAGHY ABOUT ISLCOLLECTIVE VIDEO QUIZZES:

"iSLCollective Interactive Video Quizzes are highly engaging and motivating multimodal texts for English language students to learn vocabulary and improve their listening skills. They are the perfect complement to the creative and innovative lesson plans on Film English."

Kieran Donaghy,
Creator of FilmEnglish.com, a site with hundreds of high quality, free ESL/EFL lesson plans created around short films

Video quiz questions (printable)

1) She ... the first slice when somebody ... on the door.

took out; was knocking
took out; knocked
was taking out; was knocking
was taking out; knocked

2) While she ... in the chair, she ... the parcel.

was sitting; was opening
was sitting; opened
sat; opened
sat; was opening

3) She ... the parcel, then she ... a vinyl record.

opened; took out
was opening; took out
opened; was taking out
was opening; was taking out

4) She ... the record, then she ...

was putting on; sat down
put on; sat down
was putting on; was sitting down
put on; was sitting down

5) The music ... when she suddenly ... it.

was playing; stopped
was playing; was stopping
played; stopped
played; was stopping

6) As she ... the music, the pizza ...

was fast forwarding; was disappearing
was fast forwarding; disappeared
fast forwarded; was disappearing
fast forwarded; disappeared

7) She ... her belly, then she ... of her baby.

touched; thought
touched; was thinking
was touching; thought
was touching; was thinking

8) After she ... the record, she ... a mom.

fast forwarded; was becoming
fast forwarded; became
was fast forwarding; became
was fast forwarding; was becoming

9) When she ... the record player again, she ... a little girl.

was touching; turned into
was touching; was turning into
touched; turned into
touched; was turning into

10) As she ... to the record player, the song ...

walked; ended
walked; was ending
was walking; ended
was walking; was ending

Lesson plan

Pre-tasks

1. Tell students that they are going to watch an animated short featuring a magical vinyl record.

2. Tell them that you are going to use the video to practice using the past simple and past continuous tenses in this video quiz.

Follow-up tasks

1. Highly recommended: Kieran Donaghy's comprehensive film lesson: http://film-english.com/2018/01/03/a-single-life/

Vocabulary list

vinyl record n.: Vinyl is a strong plastic used for making things such as floor coverings or records. A vinyl record, or simply "vinyl" or "record" was used to store music before the era of cassettes or compact discs.
turn into v.: transform into something else, become something else
parcel n.: A parcel is something wrapped in paper, usually so that it can be sent to someone by post
rewind v.: When the tape in a video or tape recorder rewinds or when you rewind it, the tape goes backwards so that you can play it again.
fast forward v.: When you fast forward the tape in a video or tape recorder or when you fast forward, you make the tape go forwards.

About the author

Kisdobos

KIERAN DONAGHY ABOUT ISLCOLLECTIVE VIDEO QUIZZES:

Kieran Donaghy,
Creator of FilmEnglish.com, a site with hundreds of high quality, free ESL/EFL lesson plans created around short films

Comments

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mdimitra

2017-09-01 14:31:19

Thanks

davido7

2017-09-03 21:29:11

Thanks

lhoi1979

2017-09-03 23:56:54

good Morning, Is this downloadable video? thanks

crispoi

2017-09-08 21:02:31

wonderful

Mathematics

2017-09-12 16:18:17

Thanks

BelMS36

2017-09-13 22:18:01

Thanks

legtamancy

2017-09-17 12:31:16

Thanks

saralope

2017-09-19 18:23:23

Thanks

specialstar

2017-09-22 15:58:09

Thanks

specialstar

2017-09-22 15:59:50

Fantastic!!! and funny, too!!!

barakata

2017-09-23 05:42:59

Thanks

lilbo

2017-09-27 07:17:37

Thanks

TeacherDianaRenke

2017-09-27 09:37:14

Thanks

TeacherDianaRenke

2017-09-27 09:37:24

Thanks

yato88

2017-09-28 11:02:37

Thanks

yato88

2017-09-28 11:02:42

Thanks

bouhout

2017-09-30 17:07:04

Thanks a lot for this creative lesson.

patrickoconnell

2017-10-01 05:10:47

Thanks

sherlyesl

2017-10-05 01:45:16

Thanks

patriciatinoco

2017-10-11 10:34:27

Thanks

Smultron20

2017-10-15 16:43:23

Thanks

felipeblk

2017-10-16 01:14:52

Thanks

Lyubava_D

2017-10-19 02:19:28

Thanks

vugiang

2017-10-19 08:08:06

Thanks

rassberry39

2017-10-19 15:37:19

Thanks

teacherjuani

2017-10-22 02:22:32

Thank you!!

Emily5555

2017-10-22 17:46:37

Thanks

Agatah1

2017-10-27 12:14:11

Thanks

Aby11

2017-11-03 20:56:38

Thanks

Aby11

2017-11-03 21:29:41

Thanks

effie76

2017-11-04 15:19:41

Thanks

HayamAlorbany

2017-11-12 05:46:10

Thanks

HayamAlorbany

2017-11-12 05:46:53

thanks alot

marymaryesse

2017-11-14 05:12:24

Thanks

marymaryesse

2017-11-14 05:13:23

Thank you!

marymaryesse

2017-11-15 07:39:36

Thanks

wisdom99

2017-11-22 03:42:58

Interesting movie and relevant exercise. Thank you!

RefaiB

2017-11-29 20:21:38

Thank you. What program do you use to make these videos?

ereneren

2017-12-03 20:11:23

dorolovesuomi

2017-12-05 10:00:04

Thank you! Very smart and funny :-)

Nafizza

2017-12-16 18:09:40

Thank you, I love it. Great exercise + explanation

evviesands

2018-01-05 17:08:27

Thanks!

Lesly77

2018-01-09 16:59:47

Gracias! =)

LauraLanny

2018-01-16 03:19:16

loved it!

Aeska

2018-01-27 22:43:12

Thanks a lot! Really useful!

angelesba

2018-02-04 18:11:14

Great! very useful to teach emotion vocabulary and maybe to practise the second conditional: If this girl were younger, she would....

koukisweetheart

2018-02-11 23:55:13

thanks for sharing

koukisweetheart

2018-02-12 00:00:07

can you please tell how to create video quizzes? I'd be extremely grateful. in case you answered, here is my e-mail: [email protected]

Dilekth

2018-02-23 16:19:46

Thanks

DROUODE

2018-03-06 16:43:54

Great video and great worksheet.Congratulations!

mehmetaslanmehmet

2018-03-07 21:01:58

how can ı download it please help me

mehmetaslanmehmet

2018-03-07 21:01:58

how can ı download it please help me

mehmetaslanmehmet

2018-03-07 21:01:58

how can ı download it please help me

BasicEnglish101

2018-03-14 12:06:23

Wow! Amazing simple class. My students will enjoy this lesson very much : ) Thanks

mariainvernizzi

2018-03-16 17:00:43

Congratulations! It's really a good idea and a nice video!

Nikka26

2018-03-21 07:20:51

Great job and a great choice of film. Thanks:)

Emilytateacher

2018-05-16 10:30:04

Good morning. Love the video lesson and so does my student. Can't copy the url to assign as homework, though. Can you help me with this one?

Lorenzokid

2018-05-22 17:53:51

ggygigfiyfuiugghvrfgut5rf3iufygu3y1fhyug3rfhygu3gy3grgyy1fi

zurrapinha

2018-05-29 17:15:21

Thank you! Great choice of video!!!!

AgaTur

2018-06-12 10:10:54

I love it, thanks!

auu2

2018-06-17 09:00:38

[email protected]

noppa

2018-07-26 05:21:31

Thanks

muna30

2018-07-31 04:50:47

Loved this video, thank you

mizzybaylon

2018-08-01 23:18:22

This is really nice. Thank you so much for sharing.

AGoldsteinToronto

2018-08-03 23:35:00

Amazing. Wonderful. Students loved to write about it. Thanks

largenku

2018-08-22 04:13:23

Thanks a lot for sharing!

cintiacoelho

2018-09-20 22:47:55

This video is sooo much interesting. I loved! Thanks a lot

70134377

2018-09-22 18:59:46

Hi, I just want say a huge Thanks to the great creative brains who make this possible and available for free.....thanks...

minochka

2018-10-09 13:51:27

thank you

minochka

2018-10-09 13:51:29

thank you

minochka

2018-10-09 13:51:32

thank you

minochka

2018-10-09 13:51:34

thank you

paulina.pe

2018-10-15 16:54:16

Thank you! I love the video and activity!

ibjimenez

2018-10-26 15:25:26

Great Job! Awesome video!

Tarantini

2018-10-29 17:12:51

Have used this excellent lesson, with different results. Aimed to get sts to expand vocab (vinyl records/objects in different rooms), take risks with expressions about life, and to speculate on the woman;s life. The slight hesitation of sts has more to do with the "heavy" subject matter (cycle of life / single life / wistfulness). Thanks for the excellent work. Nigel Clark

Baharkorkmaz

2018-11-16 19:29:17

thanks

julietan

2018-12-04 11:38:10

Brilliant!

Emilyanastasia

2018-12-17 16:23:48

Thank you very much, my students really enjoyed doing this task

grkmmm1

2019-01-13 15:58:48

Thanks

BEATRICEBARREAU

2019-02-11 16:58:30

THANK YOU

AnnaFinch

2019-02-15 12:22:24

Thank you

AnnaFinch

2019-02-15 12:22:25

Thank you

mafertbaragao

2019-03-13 03:20:38

THANKS!!

NadiaHumaniuk

2019-03-31 04:46:11

It's very interesting and useful! Thanks a lot!

Hobbes008

2019-04-07 14:28:18

Such a good choice of film and topic! ;-)

adisalazar

2019-05-22 16:52:12

Thanks a lot! Great video, great suggestions for teaching!

adisalazar

2019-05-22 16:52:15

Thanks a lot! Great video, great suggestions for teaching!

vicky1363

2019-07-19 16:05:46

Thank you from Patagonia, Argentina!

DavidGomes

2019-07-27 13:17:05

Thanks!! I tried to edit the first exercise. How can I save it?

DavidGomes

2019-07-27 13:17:09

Thanks!! I tried to edit the first exercise. How can I save it?

DavidGomes

2019-07-27 13:17:10

Thanks!! I tried to edit the first exercise. How can I save it?

azure76

2019-09-22 13:41:46

Very nice! Thank you!

beknik

2019-10-12 13:38:09

Thank you so much!

MAFFE72

2019-11-21 21:15:03

Thanks a lot!!!

Lucyz87

2020-01-20 09:38:22

excellent!

Lolo1931

2020-01-22 15:07:22

thats shit ma boi. thats not real video game

lpalominot01

2020-01-27 07:02:56

graciasxxx

soniams0

2020-02-14 16:05:25

Thanks 4 sharing! What tool /website did you use to create this quiz? The one I use to add questions to videos is Edpuzzle but I like your quiz better..

robabroad

2020-03-01 14:54:10

Very well done, didn't change anything thanks!

zahmona

2020-03-11 11:35:51

Thank you! Great lesson!

AlegriaJG

2020-03-12 20:00:29

Great! Thank you :)

marina.morelli

2020-03-17 10:56:46

Great, thanks!

Angelsibz

2020-03-17 18:42:27

Great video and activity!!! Thank you so much! loved it

korpan

2020-03-23 15:00:40

Thank you!

louisrobin

2020-03-24 15:11:38

Hi, this tied in perfectly to the Film English lesson and is very useful as an online teaching resource. Thank you

leniency2

2020-03-26 22:25:37

thanks for sharing

jtdr

2020-04-01 11:26:32

It is great!!! Thanks a lot!! Which software do you use to create this? Best regards from the Canaries

sukyin

2020-04-02 04:52:13

This is an awesome exercise! I enjoy doing it too! Many thanks!

markhme

2020-04-07 11:01:15

This is a great assignment. Thanks very much!

LASUPER

2020-04-11 09:47:33

it´s funny

IvanyS.

2020-04-12 20:47:55

Thank you very much!

Lilya92

2020-04-15 09:47:56

Thank you!

Mnoosh

2020-04-18 15:22:38

good

claumab4054

2020-04-18 17:11:44

thank you so much for such a nice work and for sharing it with us. Sharing is caring.

melkelglo

2020-04-20 10:37:49

very interesting and funny

Mavliuda

2020-04-20 18:21:10

Thank you so much.

nesrintiras

2020-04-25 16:25:22

it was really a good one

lbl197678

2020-04-30 12:50:44

thanks

BoEli57

2020-05-01 17:59:59

Simply great! Very well-done, nice animation, tenses are clearly explained. Thank you!

Polola1410

2020-05-05 01:41:36

Great lesson and usage of the video! Thanks!!!

tasoulakinali

2020-05-05 07:15:00

Thank you so much!!!!

rociodiaz

2020-05-05 07:45:14

THANK YOU FOR SUCH WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE REALLY USEFUL!

BetulSolmaz

2020-05-05 18:01:51

It was so lovely and frutiful video, thank you so much!

Suetling68

2020-05-11 08:01:53

Hi. I am a teacher from Malaysia. This video is really great. It complements what I am teaching at the moment. Thanks for being so creative.

papitchaya

2020-05-13 08:21:55

awesome

blenx

2020-05-20 21:09:04

It is a great activity with the perfect video, thanks!

Emile2007

2020-05-25 19:09:38

tanks bro that was lit

barbarasteel

2020-05-28 08:19:44

Thanks

karikassousa

2020-05-31 13:53:04

I liked the sequence of questions because they recycle the various uses and reinforce learning. Thank you!

luisamadu

2020-06-03 15:28:31

Thanks, it has been quite useful during this quatentine times.

asuntree

2020-06-04 10:50:50

The worksheet is great, but (!). There are mistakes in it. 1) She ... the first slice when somebody ... on the door. - The suggested correct answer is she took the first slice when somebody knocked on the door. But this is an interrupted action and for long action we use past continuous, for short-past simple. So, the sentence should be " She was taking the first slice when somebody knocked on the door". 2) While she ... in the chair, she ... the parcel. The suggested correct answer is "while she was sitting in the chair, she opened the parcel". 2 actions are simultaneous, they are happening at the same time. So, my suggestion is "While she was sitting in the chair, she was opening the parcel".

Profpaub

2020-06-18 21:28:45

lovely!! thak you so much

Sarah19910413

2020-06-19 04:05:00

Thanks for what you have done. it's interesting and fascinating.

Robertabfranco

2020-07-02 14:15:22

thank you, loved it

dickcherry

2020-07-04 08:27:46

thanks so much for this :)

Anyelacarrasco

2020-07-05 21:22:15

What a great exercise!

anapaulamdoss

2020-07-08 23:59:07

thank you!!! It is a great activity!!!

Mrsniefer

2020-07-13 09:04:53

That is great, thank you so much!

marielabelen

2020-07-14 15:48:48

Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking video and the incredible activities!!!

dept.angles

2020-07-17 09:07:04

Many thanks for you work.

RoseliSerra

2020-07-19 00:31:43

LOVE IT!

Kareninogo18

2020-07-26 04:20:05

What an amazing piece of art, so complete and beautifully made. God bless! My students will enjoy it! Cheers for that!

kotarakav4izmi

2020-07-28 10:08:18

Thank you for a great resource!

AselAlibekova

2020-08-02 15:27:47

Good job

giugambassi

2020-08-06 17:12:49

Thank you! It will be useful with my students in Brazil :)

mariadiego

2020-08-07 10:33:40

Thank you very much for your great job !!!!

vieira.ale

2020-08-13 04:39:57

Amazing activity

DianaAngarita

2020-08-17 22:16:31

Wonderful Activity, Thanks a lot!

Thay27

2020-09-06 15:23:32

Thank you! This activity is very fun and a great way to practice the past tenses!

bangesz

2020-09-08 18:15:27

I enjoyed this task very much. Great choice.

jecoma09

2020-09-10 03:57:44

Amazing Job!!!!!

AdriMel

2020-09-13 17:20:52

Thanks

Vera888

2020-09-29 15:27:06

Thank you very much. This is very useful!

Justra1

2020-10-01 16:59:30

A perfect task and a good moral story. Thank you.

Mobilme

2020-10-05 15:37:05

This was an amazing video lesson. Thank you : )

jupark26

2020-10-06 16:20:41

Hilarious...

english204

2020-10-15 10:35:07

Thanks

furka

2020-10-16 07:14:47

crisba99

2020-10-26 09:16:19

Awesome, than you so much! Great work

marusia24

2020-10-27 12:35:42

Thanks

RodrigoMEX

2020-10-29 04:07:25

IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB, THANKS SO MUCH!

agatakk

2020-11-12 20:45:41

great video and lesson. thanks

TamKar

2020-11-16 18:31:51

Great quiz! Love it! Thanks!

burakas

2020-11-26 21:16:43

very nice job

anastassinger

2020-12-02 14:07:47

This is a really great idea. My students will love it! Thank you so much!

Tanannnn

2020-12-23 09:18:40

Thank you this video very useful

SOURCHERRY68

2020-12-27 12:58:50

Thanks a lot

abumariamthiam

2021-01-05 10:52:49

thanks

TeacherSam2

2021-01-12 06:31:19

THANKS A LOT!! VERY USEFUL

DonnaTH

2021-01-31 14:45:46

It's very helpful. Thank you so much! <3

MinooMH

2021-02-01 08:40:34

thanks for providing such a funny and great clip for the students

Escorsa

2021-02-01 15:07:11

This video was what I needed for this week lesson. Many thanks!

Jthuillez

2021-02-09 15:38:16

Just a big thank you! All my lessons are via different platforms at the moment and trying to motivate kids via a computer screen is getting more and more challenging so i was delighted to find this!

Lyudmyla24

2021-02-11 14:27:59

Thanks a lot

ispanka

2021-02-11 16:03:59

Great choice of questions!

CikguHumairah

2021-02-15 03:16:56

This is so cool thanks for sharing, it helps a lot

YuliaUstimets

2021-03-11 09:33:20

thanks

csuti74

2021-03-18 14:15:15

Absolutely brilliant! Had such a great lesson with this, it really helped my student to understand the grammar. And we had a great laugh too.

Anyechka

2021-03-30 09:41:18

Thank you so much!

ivanmora1234

2021-03-30 20:08:06

thanks

anaclara9

2021-04-04 18:30:56

thanks a lot!

ingles2takeaway

2021-04-20 17:36:52

Thanks for your sharing!

jasnap

2021-04-29 08:35:50

Excellent work. Thank you very much!

supermuszka

2021-05-12 20:12:47

it's awesome but difficult

MarcelitaJ

2021-05-18 01:15:05

Loved it! Thanks

anaraquelgalan

2021-05-20 07:58:36

Thanks very much for this!!

mariamanzano57

2021-05-26 16:21:41

I loved it. Thank you your sharing it.

Elizabeth26cerati

2021-06-03 16:15:53

Thanks !

angelinawms

2021-06-10 23:05:33

Thank you. I love the explanation bit. Very useful for the students.

kaylee101

2021-07-07 00:55:00

Thank you so much

Sakura163565

2021-07-14 02:52:28

Arigatōgozaimashita

NiciSchmitt

2021-07-16 20:57:13

I love this film and combination with the exercises. It is so real and the explanations are helpful.

janaepasser

2021-08-22 14:31:12

Thank you! I have a 2 hour lesson! I need a break!

dmvc

2021-10-17 16:09:33

It is a great activity. Thanks a lot.

Katarina28

2021-10-31 16:32:05

Thanks a lot for such an outstanding funny video to learn grammar !

Matt66Sensei

2021-11-04 17:04:41

Thank you for your great materials!

chinisuarez

2021-11-15 22:06:07

Thank you!!!

macoslavII

2021-11-20 14:01:36

Perfect teaching material

bgainigriv

2021-12-01 20:28:10

amazing :)

Niasaruc

2021-12-01 23:47:50

Great content, thanks!

Lwd69

2022-01-18 05:07:14

great