Past Continuous Tense Use the Past Continuous to

Past Continuous Tense Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples: I was watching TV when she called. When the phone rang, she was writing a letter. While we were having the picnic, it started to rain. What were you doing when the earthquake started?

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption. Examples: Last night at 6 P. M. , I was eating dinner. At midnight, we were still driving through the desert. Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

USE 3 Parallel Actions When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel. Examples: I was studying while he was making dinner. While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television. Were you listening while he was talking?

Structure Conclusion Subject + was were + V. ing

Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive). phoned were playing 1. When I ……………. . . (phone) my friends, they…………. (play) monopoly. was preparing 2. Yesterday at six I ………………. . . (prepare) dinner. 3. The kids ………………. . (play) in the garden when it were playing ……………. . . (suddenly / begin) to rain. suddenly began 4. I ……………. . (practice) the guitar when he was practicing ………………. (come )home. came weren’t working 5. We ……………. . . (not / work) all day yesterday. 6. While Alan ……………. . (work) in his room, his friends was working ………………. . (swim) in the pool. were swimming

weren’t listening 7. I tried to tell them the truth but they…………………. (not / listen ). were you doing 8. What……………………. . . (you / do) yesterday? were sitting 9. Most of the time we …………………. (sit) in the park. was listening 10. I …………………. (listen) to the radio while my sister was watching …………………. (watch) TV. were playing arrived 11. When I …………(arrive) , they………………. . . (play) cards. were studying 12. . We……………………. . . (study) English yesterday at 4: 00 pm.

Make sentences in the past continuous tense using the verb given in the brackets. ( Individual work) 1. The boy ————— (sleep). 2. I ———————– (read) when the lights went out. 3. She ———————– (wash) the clothes. 4. I ————- (cook) dinner when the visitors arrived. 5. Julia ————- (do) her homework at 8 pm. 6. James ————– (repair) the car.

7. Janet ————- (rehearse) for the play. 8. Sophia ————– (wait) for the bus. 9. The birds ————– (chirp). 10. The boys ———— (learn) their lesson. 11. She ———— (get) dressed. 12. He ————– (search) for his purse.

������� Past Continuous 1. ������������������������������������� Last night at 6 P. M. , I was eating dinner. 1. ���������������� 1 While we were having the picnic, it started to rain. What were you doing when the earthquake started?

3. �������������������� � I was studying while he was making dinner. While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

Complete with past simple or past continuous 1. I …………………. . . (drive) my new car when I ……………. . . (hear) the news. 2. She ………………. . (walk) down the street when a friend …………. (call) her. 3. They ……………. . . (not see) me because they ……………. (talk). 4. I ………………. (have) a shower and the door …………………. . . (open)

6. They ……………. . (have) so much fun at the party, they …………. . . (decide) to stay. 7. When the teacher ………………. . . (arrive), they …………. (play) in the back of the classroom. 8. While I ………………. (have) a drink in the café, I …………………. . . (see) an accident outside. 9. What …………………. . . (you/ do) when the telephone ……………. (ring)? 10. Why……………. . (you /run) when I ………………. . (see) you the other day?