Past-continuous

• Foreign language
• Vocational Education

Past-continuous 

vs. 

Past-simple Review

Look at the sentences. Which grammar tenses do they use?

1. I was listening to music.

2. I was going to Baucau when my bike broke down.

3. I studied English.

A. Past simple

B. Past continuous

C. Past continuous and past simple

Look at the sentences. When we use past continuous, what do we always use?

1. She was studying yesterday.

2. They were walking to work.

3. Pedro was reading a book.

Subject   +

+

is / are

was / were

Verb 2

Verb-ing

Uses of the past continuous

- We use the past continuous for actions that were in progress at a time in the past.

                 "I was driving home at 6.30 yesterday evening."

- We also use it when another completed action happens.

                 "I was walking home when I saw my friend."

Uses of the past continuous

- Past-continuous is often used with the past simple to tell stories.

                     "I was going to work when it started raining."

- The past continuous is used for the background of the story, whereas the past simple is used for the main event.

Now practice some questions.

I ____ my old friend Harry as I _____ on the bus.

1. met, got
2. was meeting, got
3. was meeting, was getting
4. met, was getting

I ____ my arm while I _____ Tennis last week.

1. was breaking, was playing
2. broke, was playing
3. broke, played
4. was breaking, played

While we ____ in the queue, someone ____ past us.

1. were waiting, pushed
2. were waiting, was pushing
3. waited, was pushing
4. waited, pushed

The lights suddenly ____ out when we ____ dinner.

1. went, were cooking
2. were going, were cooking
3. were going, cooked
4. went, cooked

He ____ to work when a dog ____ out in front of his car.

1. drove, ran
2. drove, was running
3. was driving, ran
4. was driving, was running

As she ____ some money out of her bag, she ____ her phone.

1. got, dropped
2. got, was dropping
3. was getting, was dropping
4. was getting, dropped

Well done. Now go back to google classroom and click 'Hand in' / 'Mark as done'