Past continuous

English grammar 1

EG410

Past continuous

Content

signal words

Aim of the lesson

Exercise

usage

Form

homework

Aim of the lesson

Суралцагчид англи хэлний одоо үргэлжлэн байгаа цагийн хэлбэр, хэрэглээний талаарх мэдлэгийг гүнзгийрүүлэн эзэмшиж өнгөрсөн тодорхой нэг цаг хугацаанд үргэлжилж үйл явдал, өнгөрсөн, өнгөрсөнд тодорхой хугацаанд зэрэгцэн үргэлжилж байсан үйлийн талаар амаар болон бичгээр өөрийн санаагаа илэрхийлж бусадтай харилцах чадвартай болох

Usage-Хэрэглээ

actions were in progress at special time in the past

two actions were happening at the same time

background information or a setting for a story

together with the Simple Past

forms and examples

Examples

Examples

signal words

Signal words tell you what tense to use. With the Past Continuous we often use a period of time i.e. while or when. The Past Continuous is frequently used in sentences together with the Past Simple. while (In this part of the sentence we usually use Past Continuous.) - While I was cooking, Petra was reading a book. when (In this part of the sentence we usually use the Past Simple.) - I was cooking when the telephone rang.

Exercise

Exercise1. Put the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use Past Simple Continuous. 1. She .................................................. a red dress. (to wear) 2 ............................................................ ? (they/to whisper) 3 I ................................................... my mobile phone. (not/to use) 4 ............................................................... a horse? (a man/to ride) 5 Susan ....................................................... in the garden. (not/to help) 6 The people ................................................. in the disco. (to dance) 7 ..................... ............................. the dishes? (Sally/wash) 8 I think you ........................................... the wrong way. (to go) 9 We ............................................. wine. (not/to drink) 10 What ....................................... when you felt ill? (you/ eat)

check

Exercise

Exercise1. Put the Wh-question to the word/phrase in bold. Use Past Continuous. Show example 1. She was eating a cake. What was she eating? 2. They were reading the whole evening. 3. We were discussing a story. 4. He was skating. 5. You were going to the park. 6. She was writing a letter. 7. They were cooking dinner. 8. We were flying to New York the whole night. 9. He was riding his bike. 10. The man was crossing the street.

check

Homework

1. Make your own sentences using Past continuous tense. Write 4 sentences for each use.

2. Make the positive or negative sentences using past continuous tense. 1) Julie .......................................................... (sleep) at three o'clock. 2) You ............................................................................... (study) at three o'clock. 3) Luke ......................................................................... (read) at three o'clock. 4) I .................................................................... (work) at three o'clock. 5) They ........................................................... (eat) chocolate at three o'clock. 6) John ................................................................... (play) tennis at three o'clock. 7) We ................................................................. (watch) TV at three o'clock. 8) He .................................................................. (use) the internet at three o'clock. 9) You ................................................... (cook) lunch at three o'clock. 10) We ................................................................. (travel) to London at three o'clock.

check

Key

3. Use the words in brackets to complete each of the following. All the sentences are in the past continuous:

1) Mrs Brown ............................................ (not/walk) in the garden when the murder happened. 2) Mr Black ................................................. (not/work) in his study when the murder happened. 3) Miss Jones ............................................... (not/talk) to Mr. White when the murder happened. 4) You ............................................................ (not/play) cards when the murder happened. 5) Dr Ford ..................................................... (not/read) in his room when the murder happened. 6) Mr. and Mrs. Green ......................... (not/eat) in the dining room when the murder happened. 7) Mr Blue ...................................... (not/drink) coffee in the library when the murder happened. 8) The maid .................................. (not/clean) the bedrooms when the murder happened. 9) I .................................... .......................(not/listen) to music when the murder happened. 10) The dogs .................................... ................(not/play) outside when the murder happened.

check