PAST CONTINUOUS

past continuous

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The Past Continuous is a verbal time used to describe past actions in progres that happened at a specific moment.

USES

• It sets the scene.

• It emphasizes the progress of an action at a specific time.

• It refers to an action that is happening again and again.

Structure

The correct use of the past continuous is as following: FORM It is formed with was/were and the main verb + -ing

Structure

I/He/She/it I was speaking She wasn´t speaking Was he speaking? wasn't = was not

Structure

You/We/They You were speaking We weren´t speaking Were they speaking? weren't = were not

Structure

WH-Questions Where were you standing during the fight? Who was I talking to? I can't remember Why wasn't she waiting at the meeting point?

Time expressions

• at 7 o'clock
• at quarter to six
• during
• at six yesterday morning
• all morning
• this time yesterday
• all last night
• all day yesterday
• the whole day
• from 7 to 9
• between seven and eight yesterday evening
• at noon yesterday
• at ten yesterday

Spelling changes Verb-ing

Verbs ending with one 'e'

believe have live take move --> Drop - e add 'ing'

beliving having living taking moving

Short one-syllable verbs ending with CVC

sit get plan run stop --> Double final consonant and add -ing

sitting getting planning running stopping

Two or more syllable verbs with CVC

begin forget regret admit upset --> Double final consonant if last syllable is stressed

beginning forgetting regretting admitting upsetting

Verbs ending in -ie

die lie tie --> Change -ie to -y Add -ing

dying lying tying

examples

Past continuous

Wonderful Afternoon Last Saturday John and Glenda didn't meet their friends. At that time, they were usually playing at the sports club, but that weekend they stayed home. It was Johns’ birthday, a special day to celebrate. They were deciding what to do during the afternoon. Glenda wanted to go out, but John’s car was at the service. It was a sunny afternoon. She walked by the window. A family was walking with their kids. A boy was taking his dog for a walk, and the birds were singing.

Glenda was going to bake a cake, but she remembered he disliked cakes. It started to rain, and it was cold too. Glenda was preparing some delicious biscuits and chocolate at 4:30. After that, John made popcorn, and both went into the living room, sat and began a movie. They were watching a hilarious movie. They laughed and enjoyed it. At 6:00 John and Glenda started to play cards. They were playing for about an hour. John played some music, and they both began to dance at 7:00. They were dancing their favourite rock music.

Glenda was glad. It was long ago they didn’t dance. John looked out at the window. It was still raining, but it seemed a beautiful and peaceful night. He was happy they stayed home that night. At 8:00 Glenda connected the TV to run a karaoke contest. John and Glenda loved it. They were singing old and new songs. John sang songs they both listened when they got married. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. John opened the door. They were their friends from the club. They brought … and all together were … for hours.

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