Past Continuous tense

to be + V ing was (Participle) were

Positive	Negative	Interrgative
I (he,she,it) was asking. We (you,they) were asking.	I (he,she,it) was not asking. We (you, they) were not asking.	Was I (he, she, it) asking? Were we (you,they) asking?

1. Join the two parts of the sentence with when:

1. I was sitting in front of the fire …	a) the film began.
2. I was getting the tea ready …	b) the telephone rang.
3. She was looking for some curtains …	c) she called out to me.
4. She was finishing her tea …	d) mother came into the room.
5. She was going down the garden path …	e) she saw this lovely material.
6. He was playing the piano …	f) the teacher looked at.
7. You were sweeping the floor …	g) there was a knock at the door.
8. The girl was sleeping …	h) they back from the theatre.
9. They were working in the garden …	i) my husband arrived home from work
10. You were not listening to her …	j) she stopped and waved.

2. Work in pairs. Ask and say what you were doing at these times yesterday:

1) 7.15am 2) 8.35am 3) 9.30am 4) 11.25am 5) 5.15pm

6) 7.45pm 7) 8.15pm 8) 9pm 9) 10.30 pm 10) 11.55pm.

e.g.: What were you doing at seven fifteen yesterday morning?

I was getting up.

What were you doing?

I was having breakfast.

3. Use the Simple Past or the Past Continuous Tense:

1. I (see) yesterday when we (go) for a walk in the park. The sun (shine), a cool breeze (blow) the birds (sing). 2. I really (enjoy) my vacation last January. While it (snow) in Iowa, the sun (shine) in Florida. While you (shovel) snow in Iowa, I (lie) on the beach in Florida. 3. My brother and sister (argue) about something when I (walk) into the room 4. The students (speak) Japanese and some (converse) in Arabic. 5. When I (arrive) she (have) lunch. She (apologize) for starting without me but said that she always (lunch) at 12.30. 6. Suddenly he (realize) that he (travel) in the wrong direction. 7. The traffic (make) so much noise that I couldn’t hear what he (say). 8. She (stand) at the bus stop. I asked her what bus she (wait) for. 9. She was very extravagant. She always (buy) herself new clothes. 10. Why you (not be) at the meeting? – I (wait) for an overseas call from my family.

4. Complete the sentences using did, was or were.

1. ‘ Were you working when I rang?’ ‘No, I wasn’t.’

2. ‘Did you see me on television?’ ‘Yes, I did.’

3. ‘What ………you doing when they arrived?’ ‘ I … reading the paper.’

4. ‘… they working hard?’ ‘No, they … ’

5. ‘… she crying when you saw her?’ ‘Yes, she …’

6. ‘… they speak to you when you met?’ ‘No, they …’

7. Peter … still lying in bed so he … n’t hear the doorbell.’

8. ‘… the police find the man?’ No, they …n’t. ‘He … hiding in an empty building.

9. We … shouting to you …n’t you hear us?

10. I … looking for some photos when you rang but I … n’t find them

5. Open the brackets and use the Past Continuous Tense:

1. When the telephone rang, Mr. Jackson (to play) the piano. 2. Robert (to sweep) the floor, when mother came into the room. 3. When I came to see Mary she (to read) an English book. 4. John (to work) in the garden when the film began. 5. When father returned home Jim (to do) his homework. 6. When the teacher looked at Peter he (not to listen) to her. 7. Gorge (to listen) to a wonderful melody when father looked into his room. 8. When they came back from the theatre the girl (to sleep) 9. When Mr. Bill phoned them, they (to have) breakfast. 10. While they (to visit) the Palace, one of the women had an idea.

6. Write questions. Use was/were –ing.

1. (what/ Tim/ do/ when you saw him?) - What was Tim doing when you saw him?

2. (what/ you/ do/ at 11 o’clock?) - …………………………………………?

3. (what/ she/ wear/ yesterday?) - …………………………………………?

4. (it/ rain/ when you went out?) -……………...………………………….?

5. (where/ you/ live/ in 1981?) - ……………………...………………….?

6. (why/ he/ smoke/ a pipe?) - …………...…………………………….?

7. (why/ they/ carry/ an umbrella?) - ………...……………………………….?

8. (what/ she/ buy/ yesterday?) - ……………………...………………….?

9. (where/ he/ be/ last week-end?) - ………………...……………………….?

10. (what/ you/ write/ about your holiday?) - …..………………………………?

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Дата добавления: 2015-07-16