Передає дію в її розвитку, яка відбувалася в якийсь момент в минулому.

was/were + дієслово із закінченням -ing

Стверджувальна форма	Питальна форма	Заперечна форма
I wasworking	WasI working?	I was not(wasn’t) working
You wereworking	Wereyou working?	You were not (weren’t) working
He (she, it) wasworking	Washe (she, it) working?	He (she, it) was not(wasn’t) working
We wereworking	Werewe working?	We were not(weren’t) working
They wereworking	Werethey working?	They were not(weren’t) working

at 5 o’clock, at that moment у той момент, the whole evening увесь вечір, all day увесь день, from 5 till 6 yesterday з 5 до 6 вечора, when mother came іn коли зайшла мама

We use the past continuous;

a) for an action which was in progress at a in the past. We do not mention when started or finished.

e.g. At seven o'clock yesterday evening they were having dinner (We do not know when they started or finished their dinner)

b) for an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it. We use the past continuous for the action in progress (longer action) and the past simple for the action which interrupted it (shorter action).

e.g. He was walking down the street when he ran into an old friend.

с) for two or more simulta­neous past actions.

e.g. She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving to work.

d) to describe the atmosphere, setting, etc. in the introduction to a story before we describe the main events.

e.g. One beautiful autumn afternoon, Ben was strolling down a quiet country lane. The birds were singing and the leaves were rustling in the breeze.

The past continuous is used with the following time expressions: while, when, as, all morning/evening/night, etc.

Ex. 1

Comment on the use of the Past Progressive in the following sentences.

1. When Ann turned on the television, the weatherman was giving the weekend forecast for Europe. 2. Diana and I were sitting in the library on Sunday reading the newspapers. Or rather she was merely glancing through them. 3. To start a conversation I asked him what he was doing at Oxford. 4. The noise was caused by a dog, which was chasing cat through the garden. 5. Summer was slipping away day by day. 6. The crisis over, Jake was finally feeling better in spirits. 7. Maxim's jaw dropped, he was unable to absorb the things he was hearing. 8. And I just knew it was my mother's face I was seeing in my mind. 9. Emma was generous of her time and money and she was understanding of heart. And she was being understanding now. And yet part of her was still disbelieving that it was true. 10. As usual, he was being selfish, thinking only about himself. 11. When she came back to the office, the secretary was still riffling through some papers. 12. She was being perfectly friendly again. 13. Nora thought she was being noisy. 14. When I entered a Pizza Hut, all around me people were eating pizzas the size of bus wheels. 15. He was liking the boy less and less every second.

Ex. 2

A group of people were staying in hotel. One evening the fire alarm rang. Use the words in brackets to make sentences saying what each person was doing at the time.

1. Don (to have a bath); 2. Carol and Dennis (to have dinner); 3. Tom (to make a phone call); 4. George (to get ready to go out); 5. David (to watch television); 6. Mary (to chat with her friends in the lounge); 7. Martha (to look through the Financial Times); 8. Linda and Paul (to quarrel); 9. Brenda and her friends (to enjoy dancing in the discotteque); 10. John and Ringo (to have great fun in a hotel’s bar); 11. The Whites (to come downstairs to the hotel’s restaurant); 12. Susan (to wait for the lift to take her to her room); 13. Anne (to write a letter in her room).

Ex. 3

Complete the conversation. Put in the past continuous forms.

Jessica: (e.g.) I was looking (I / look) for you, Vicky. I'm afraid I've broken this dish.

Vicky: Oh no! What (1) …(you / do)?

Jessica: (2) … (I / take) it into the kitchen. I bumped into Emma. (3) … (she / come)

out just as (4) … (I / go) in.

Vicky: I expect it was your fault. (5) … (you / not / look) where (6) … (you / go).

Jessica: Sorry. I'll buy you another one as soon as I have any money.

Ex. 4

Say what you were doing at a certain moment in the past.

1. Were you expecting anyone at 7 o’clock last night? 2. You were working overtime last week, weren’t you? 3. What game were you playing when we stopped to watch you? 4. What happened when you were taking your exam in English? 5. Who were you visiting from 5 to 7 last Friday? 6. Where were you travelling to when you found your luggage missing? 7. You were having a conference in your hotel last week, weren’t you? 8. What conference were you having there? 9. How many participants were you expecting to come? 10. Who was your boss talking with when you wanted to see him? 11. While talking to that person your boss was getting more and more agitated, wasn’t he? 12. Was the boss willing very much to see you after that person had left his office? 13. What were you doing at 8 o’clock yesterday evening?

Ex. 5

Read these sets of two simple sentences. Write a compound sentence each time saying that one action was interrupted by another action.

1. John went out. I came in. 2. We waited for the bus. We saw an accident. 3. The doorbell rang. Jack left the house. 4. Mike had an accident. He drove too fast. 5. It started to rain. I set off. 6. Richard called. I went to bed. 7. He bought a ticket. The train left. 8. We played cards. The light went out. 9. My dad lost a finger. He operated a lift truck. 10. The worker crippled the line. He manufactured the last lot of tinned food. 11. I watched television. I fell asleep.

Ex. 6

Put the verbs into the correct form, the Past Progressive or the Past Simple.

A

1. Sally … (to burn) her wrist when she … (to cook) dinner. 2. Last night I … (to read) in bed when suddenly I … (to hear) a scream. 3. Tom … (to take) a photograph of me while I … (not to look). 4. We … (not to go) out because it … (to rain). 5. Malcolm … (to fall) off the ladder while he … (to paint) the ceiling. 6. I … (not to drive) very fast when the accident … (to happen). 7. What … (you/to do) at this time yesterday? 8. Ann … (to break) a plate last night. She … (to do) the washing-up when it … (to slip) out of her hand. 9. The phone … (to ring) still when I … (to rush) into the room. 10. When Sid … (to be) young, he … (to work) from morning till night. 11. One day I … (to play) by the big window in our front room where I … (to use) to sit on wet days looking at the rain. 12. Last night at 9.35 the Director of a school … (to walk) from the office to his car when somebody … (to attack) him from behind.

B

1. On that special day Grandma was in her best clothes, she (wear) net gloves and a hat. 2. The child's eyes (shine) with excitement as he stared at the rows and rows of toys in this fantastic shop. 3. The scientists (work) around the clock, they (try) to raise funds for further research. 4. She looked out of the window and saw that the children (return) slowly from school. 5. When we (meet) for the first time, he (sell) newspapers on the streets. 6. At exactly this time yesterday they (have) a briefing. 7. What you (do) when I (call) you? You (sleep) or what? 8. We (have) a very lazy holiday. We (play) tennis, (visit) friends, the children (swim) and (sunbathe). 9. Gwenny still (leaf) through the magazines when returned to the parlour. 10. The middle-aged couple (discuss) their plans for Christmas — who to invite. 11. The police who (investigate) the crime at the moment, (can) find no clues at all. 12. I know that you thought that I (be stubborn) the other day. 13. The train (speed) past hills full of cows and sheep.

Ex. 7

Translate the following sentences into English. Mind the use of the Past Continuous.

1. Коли пролунав сигнал пожарної тривоги, Джон і Рінго веселились в барі готелю. 2. Вчора мені треба було побачитись з керівником нашого відділу з приводу одного неприємного питання. Проте коли я до нього прийшов, у нього в кабінеті уже хтось був. Я чекав в приймальні закінчення цієї зустрічі, і мені було чути, що з кожною хвилиною наш бос все більше і більше сердився: він навіть підвисив голос. Звичайно, що після такої зустрічі у нього не було ніякого бажання обговорювати моє питання. 3. Річард тільки зараз безробітній. Я пам’ятаю, що в цей час минулого року він працював на фабриці, що в 100 кілометрах від дому. Щоб прокормити велику сім’ю, Річард тоді працював з ранку до ночі, а дуже часто і наднормово. Додому він приїжджав тільки на вихідні.

1. У нього алібі, інспекторе. Минулої суботи о 9 годині вечора він сидів в пивній. Багато хто може це підтвердити. 2. Вибачте, але я не міг приєднатися до вас, тому що дивився свій улюблений фільм. 3. – Чим займається твій син все літо? – Готувався до вступних іспитів в університет. 4. Ввечері ми поїхали в центр міста. Багато людей дивилися концерт на Майдані Незалежності, деякі співали, інші танцювали. 5. Вони уже запізнювалися, але не могли вийти, тому що йшов сильний дощ. 6. Хтось постукав у двері, але ми нікого не чекали. 7. Ніхто не міг зрозуміти, що відбувалося. 8. Коли ми прийшли до офісу, всі обговорювали останні події. 9. В будинку було спокійно: цокав годинник, кішка гралася з м’ячиком, собака спав біля каміну, діти збирали нову гру. 10. Всі були дуже зайняті – вони готувалися до від’їзду. 11. Вчора він цілий вечір лежав на дивані: читав, спав, дивився телевізор. 12. Ми бачили, що він намагався допомогти своїм друзям.

Ex. 8

Write a compound sentence made of two simple sentences, saying that two actions were going on at the same time.

1. You had a bath. The girls washed the dishes. 2. You talked to Mary. I talked to John. 3. I made the tea. Jimmy cleaned the car. 4. Alison got ready. Graham fetched the car. 5. I had a holiday in France. My parents worked hard. 6. It rained. I walked up the hill. 7. The house burnt down. We slept. 8. Jane and Lewis whispered in class. The monitor looked at them with indignation. 9. The children enjoyed playing cards. Their mothers chatted in another room. 10. There was a fight going on in the street. Two men hit each other. A lot of women and children watched them and shouted. 11. Anne and Bill met in the café by chance. They flirted, smiled at each other, drank coffee and ate cakes. Bill’s girlfriend Jane lay in bed ill. 12. Anne and Bill left the café. They saw Jane and Harry who laughed and walked arm in arm. 13. I shaved. The children had breakfast.

Ex. 9

Ask questions to the following statements. Begin with a given interrogative word (words).

1. At 5 sharp Helen was talking to the Dean. (When …) 2. The foreigner was speaking slowly because he wanted us to understand the joke. (How … Why …) 3. The Fretwells were travelling from India to China when they met the stranger again. (Where … to) 4. They were playing cards when the stranger appeared on the deck. (When …) 5. The customs official was inspecting Bill’s luggage when he heard an explosion. (What …) 6. It was raining heavily as Jack was walking up the hill towards the station at 6 o’clock on a Saturday morning. (How … Where … to) 7. Just as Jack was crossing the road near the top of the hill, a car came round the corner. (What road …) 8. Jack guessed at once that the driver was having difficulty in controlling it. (What difficulty …) 9. While they were sailing up the west coast of Africa, they ran out of food. (Where …) 10. The secretary was still dialing 911 when she saw the burglar again. (What …) 11. Last year customers were getting used to soaring prices. (Who …) 12. I was visiting my friend from 5 to 6 yesterday. (Who …)

Ex. 10

Translate these sentences into English by using the Past Progressive.

1. Ми збиралися на пікнік. В той час як я готував машину, а Бетті пакувала провізію, діти бігали по всьому будинку і заважали нам. 2. Як раз в той момент, коли Джек переходив дорогу, з-за рогу з’явився автомобіль. Джек відразу зрозумів, що у водія проблеми з керуванням. 3. Я пам’ятаю, що Нік раніше був не дуже надійним співробітником: він завжди відкладав важливі справи на самий останній момент. 4. Весь минулий тиждень група підприємців з Китаю знаходилась в нашому місті. Вони вивчали можливості співробітництва в сфері малого бізнесу.

Ex. 11

Find the second part of each sentence. Put each verb into the correct form.

e.g. Vicky (have) a beautiful dream when she (touch) the wire.

When Andrew (see) the question, when I (find) a £10 note in it.

1 The train (wait) when the alarm clock (ring).

2 I (read) a library book the crowd (rush) in.

3 Sarah (have) an electric shock he (know) the answer immediately.

4 When the doors (open), they (see) that the sun (shine).

5 When the campers (wake), when we (arrive) at the station.

e.g. Vicky was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang.

When Andrew saw the question, he knew the answer immediately.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Ex. 12

Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or the past continuous.

A

The sun 1)... was shining... (shine) and the birds 2)... (sing) as Mike 3)... (drive) down the country lane. He 4)... (smile), because he 5)... (look forward) to the journey ahead. Mike 6)... (enjoy) driving, especially when he 7)... (go) somewhere new. Then, suddenly, the engine 8)... (begin) to make a strange noise and the car 9)... (stop) dead in the middle of the road. Mike 10)... (try) to start it, but nothing 11)... (happen). He 12)... (sigh), then 13)... (get out) of the car. As he 14)... (push) the car to the side of the road, Mike 15)... (start) to wish he had stayed at home.

В

John 1)... (enter) his flat and 2)... (close) the door. He 3)... (hang up) his coat when he 4)... (hear) a strange noise. A tap 5)... (run) in the kitchen. He 6)... (walk) into the kitchen and 7)... (turn) it off. Then, he 8)... (freeze). Someone 9)... (stand) behind him. He 10)... (take) a deep breath and 11)... (turn) around. His flatmate, Steve, 12)... (lean) in the doorway. 'You 13)... (give) me a fright!' John exclaimed. Steve 14)... (laugh) at him. John 15)... (start) to laugh, too. 'I 16)... (think) you had gone to London today,' he said. 17) Steve... (reply) 'Unfortunately I 18)... (miss) the train.'

Ex. 13

Make the right choice.

1. Kate's hopes... after her last interview.

a. raised b. rose c. were raising

2. The landscape... in silence, as if the world had stopped

a. lay b. laid с was lying

3. The King's palace... on the hill, overlooking the river.

a. was standing b. stood c. stayed

4. A narrow path... to the entrance to the secret garden.

a. led b. was leading с is leading

5. Meredith laughed and... a perfectly shaped brow.

a. rose b. raised c. was raising

6. Instinctively she recognized that here her future....

a. lay b. lied с was lying

7. She... suddenly and began to clear the kitchen table.

a. raised b. was rising с rose

8. I... my hand in greeting.

a. raised b. rose с was raising

9. A little river... through the grounds.

a. flowed b. was flowing с flew

10. Molly was walking along the lonely path that... between the hills.

a. ran b. was running с runs

11. A thick fog... in the air.

a. hanged b. hung c. was hanging

12. Do you happen to know who... this public fund?

a. found b. founded с finds

13. My parents can't offer me any financial help. I have to... the money myself.

a. raise b. rise c. rose

14. Now she knew that her happiness... in his hands.

a. was lying b. was laying с. lay

15. When I came into the room, my dog... on the bed again.

a. was laying b. lay c. was lying

16. The door... open.

a. stood b. was standing c. stood up

17. Last week he... a new record.

a. sat b. set c. was sitting

18. After the heavy rains the lake...

a. rose b. raised c. risen

Ex. 14

Complete the following story by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct tense form, either the Past Simple or the Past Progressive.

I … (to mend) my sails one day when a man I had worked with before … (to walk) up and … (to ask) me if I’d like to have a drink. I … (to think) he probably had more than just a friendly drink in mind, so I … (to stop) what I … (to do), … (to wipe) off my hands and … (to follow) him to the local drink shop. It … (to be) there that I … (to find) out that he … (to recruit) people to work on Necho’s project. Nowadays everybody knows about our journey, but then it … (to sound) a bit strange. At first I thought the man … (to try) to play a trick on me. But the more he … (to talk), the better it … (to sound) – a real adventure. I …(to get) tired of the same old sea routes year after year. Besides, I … (to think) it would be a great trading opportunity; the route to Carthage, across Greek waters … (to get) more and more dangerous. You may not believe this, but it … (only to take) me a few minutes to decide; I … (to sit) there in that shop with a cup in my hand, and I … (to make) a decision that would change my life – and lots of other people’s lives as well.

There were times on the journey when I … (to have) doubts about my decision. Once while we were being pushed south-west by the monsoon winds, I was nearly washed off the deck by a big wave. And one day during the long sail south, one of the men … (to try) to convince the rest of us that we were under a magic spell when a dead black bird … (to fall) on the deck; believe me, we were scared.

But there were some good times, too; we … (to have) to stop and collect supplies on the west coast, and we … (to stay) there for a long time, in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. One evening while I … (to sit) under a tree with the wind in my face and a luscious big mango to eat, I almost … (to decide) to stay there for the rest of my life. But of course, I … (not to stay), I … (to know) that I would get tired of it soon enough, and besides, my wife and children … (to wait) for me back in Tyre.

We … (to see) thousands of birds at Gibraltar, but these … (to be) alive: they … (to fly) over, on their way south for the winter.

In December, when I … (to get) home, I … (to make) sure that no one told my family before I … (to arrive). When I … (to walk) through the door, my wife … (to put) supper on the table, and my son and daughter – whom I … (hardly to recognize) - … (to play) by the fireplace. I … (to know) when I … (to see) them that I had done the right thing not to stay under that tree. I still think of that big tree in the jungle sometimes, though; and I’ll bet there’s not a man who … (to go) on that journey who wouldn’t like to go back.

Ex. 15

Lorna Bright is a long-distance walker. Look at this part of her diary describing a morning walk along the coast. Write the missing words. Use one word only in each space.

It was a fine day (e.g.) when I started out on the last part of my walk around the coast of Britain. The sun was (1) …, and a light wind (2) … blowing from the south-west. I was pleased that it (3) … raining. I knew by now that I (4) … like rain. In fact I (5) … it. I (6) … along the cliff top and then down into the lovely little fishing village of Wellburn, past a cafe where people (7) … having morning coffee. Three miles past Wellburn I (8) … down for five minutes and (9) … a drink. Now it (10) … getting warmer, so I (11) … off one of my sweaters. I (12) … stop for long because I (13) … to reach Seabury by lunch-time. (14) … I finally got there, it (15) … just after half past twelve.

Ex 16

Translate into English using the Past Continuous or the Past Indefinite.

1. В той час як він пробирався через натовп, він почув, як хтось його гукнув. 2. Ми вийшли на привокзальну площу. Натовпи люду поспішали на вокзал і з вокзалу; снували носії з важкими валізами, під’їжджали і від’їжджали машини, хтось купував квіти. До нас підійшов шофер таксі і запитав, куди нам їхати. 3. Королівський палац стояв в парку. 4. Міліціонер стояв на перехресті і регулював рух. 5. Ріка протікала через ліс. 6. Перед нами лежала прекрасна долина. 7. Хлопчик лежав на підлозі і дивився мультики. 8. Дорога вела до церкви. 9. Сусанін вів поляків через ліс, все далі і далі. 10. Хто заснував цей фонд? 11. Хто знайшов мою касету? Дякую!

Ex. 17

a) Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the Past Simple in one space and the Past Continuous in the other.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-19