Y2 Past continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Past continuous

Grammar unit 4 lesson 5

Storytime

"The sun was shining, and the birds were singing as the elephant came out of the jungle. The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved very quickly. She was looking for her baby, and she didn't notice the hunter who was watching her through his binoculars. When the shot rang out, she was running towards the river but it was too late.”

Past continuous

• = (onvoltooid) verleden tijd
• For things that were happening for a while in the past
  
  
• I was doing my homework
• They were helping
• --> was/were + verb+ing

• + He was watching a movie yesterday.
  
• Ond + was/were + ww-ing
• - He wasn't watching a movie yesterday
  
• Ond + to be + not + ww-ing
• ? Was he watching a movie yesterday?
• Was/were + ond + ww-ing

-ing spelling exceptions

1. Ending with -e --> delete -e
   
   
2. Ending in consonant +vowel + consonant --> dubble the last consonant
3. Not for endings in -w or -x
   
   
4. Ending with -ie --> change into -y
5. Ending with -l --> double the l

Examples:

1. Our team was clearly losing (lose).
   
   
2. Lydia was chatting with Mike (chat).
   
3. Dad was fixing my bike (fix).
   
   
   
4. They were lying to me (lie).
   
5. Lars was travelling across Denmark (travel).

Past continuous - practice - positive sentences

Complete the sentences using the past continuous.

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.

Past continuous - KEY - positive sentences

1. Julie was sleeping at three o'clock.
   
2. You were studying at three o'clock.
   
3. Luke was reading at three o'clock.
   
4. I was working at three o'clock.
   
5. They were eating chocolate at three o'clock.
   
6. John was playing tennis at three o'clock.
   
7. We were watching TV at three o'clock.
   
8. He was using the internet at three o'clock.
   
9. You were cooking lunch at three o'clock.
   
10. We were travelling to London at three o'clock.

Past continuous - practice - negative sentences

Complete the negations using 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.

Past continuous - KEY - negative sentences

1. Mrs Brown wasn’t walking in the garden when the murder happened.
   
2. Mr Black wasn’t working in his study when the murder happened.
   
3. Miss Jones wasn’t talking to Mr. White when the murder happened.
   
4. You weren’t playing cards when the murder happened.
   
5. Dr Ford wasn’t reading in his room when the murder happened.
   
6. Mr. and Mrs. Green weren’t eating in the dining room when the murder happened.
   
7. Mr Blue wasn’t drinking coffee in the library when the murder happened.
   
8. The maid wasn’t cleaning the bedrooms when the murder happened.
   
9. I wasn’t listening to music when the murder happened.
   
10. The dogs weren’t playing outside when the murder happened.

Past continuous - practice - questions

Complete the questions using the past continuous. When you arrived at the party…

1. ___ (Alan – dance)?
   
2. ___ (Susie – drink gin)?
   
3. ___ (John and Ann – sing)?
   
4. ___ (Luke – talk to the girls)?
   
5. ___ (Jodie – put on makeup)?
   
6. ___ (we – cook)?
   
7. ___ (Jane – play the guitar)?
   
8. ___ (David – read a book)?
   
9. ___ (Francis – sit in the corner)?
   
10. ___ (everybody – have fun)?
    

Past continuous - KEY - questions

1. Was Alan dancing?
   
2. Was Susie drinking gin?
   
3. Were John and Ann singing?
   
4. Was Luke talking to the girls?
   
5. Was Jodie putting on makeup?
   
6. Were we cooking?
   
7. Was Jane playing the guitar?
   
8. Was David reading a book?
   
9. Was Francis sitting in the corner?
   
10. Was everybody having fun?