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👉A CLOSER LOOK 2
Grammar
The past continuous
💡Remember!
We use the past continuous to describe:
- an action that was happening at a particular time in the past.
Example: I was having dinner at 6 p.m. yesterday.
Were you having dinner at 6 p.m. yesterday? - Yes, I was.
- a past action that was happening when another action interrupted it.
We use the past simple for the action that interrupted it.
Example: When / While we were watching TV, we felt the earthquake. What were they doing when they felt the earthquake? - They were watching TV.
Notes:
We can use when or while before the past continuous.
We can only use when before the past simple.
1. Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into the past continuous.
1. They (help) _____ the flood victims at 10 o'clock last night.
2. It (not snow) _____ when I left home this afternoon.
3. While she (work) _____ in the field, the tornado came.
4. What _____ you (do) _____ at 9 o'clock yesterday morning?
5. - _____ you (cry) when I saw you two days ago?
- I (watch) _____ the news about a volcanic eruption.
- No, I wasn't.
2. Circle the correct answer to complete each sentence.
1. We donated / were donating money to help the earthquake victims last month.
2. - What did you do / were you doing when the volcano erupted?
- I slept / was sleeping in my bed.
3. While they camped / were camping near the river, the flood was coming / came suddenly.
4. After Tom ran / was running out of his house, he moved/was moving quickly to a safer place.
5. I didn't read / wasn't reading a newspaper at 9 a.m. yesterday, but I watched / was watching the news about the tornado.
3. Look at the picture and write what each person in Lan's family was doing when the earthquake happened. Use the given word and phrases from the box.
| watch TV draw read a book drink tea talk on the phone |
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4. Form questions using the past continuous. Then in pairs, ask and answer the questions.
Example:
you / play / football / 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon?
- Were you playing football at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon?
- Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't. I was doing my homework.
1. you have dinner / 7 o'clock yesterday evening?
2. you/do/homework / 8 o'clock yesterday evening?
3. you/watch/ film / 9 o'clock yesterday evening?
5. GAME Memory challenge
Work in groups. Take turns to say a sentence that describes what each person in the picture was doing.
