The Past Indefinite is used to denote:

1. An action in progress at a definite moment or a definite period of time in the past: They were playing football at 5.30 yesterday.

2. past action in progress interrupted by another past action. The longer action is in the Past Continuous, the shorter is in the Past Indefinite: Mark was having dinner when somebody knocked at the door.

3. two or more simultaneous past actions: While I was swimming, Jane was sunbathing.

4. background description to events in a story: She was flying to Rome. The sun was shining.

The following time expressions can be used with the Past Continuous: while, still, when, as, etc.

Exercises

1. Explain the use of the Past Continuous forms. Translate into Russian. Start like this:

Model: I was watching TV from 5 till 6 yesterday. (The verb to watch is used in its Past Continuous tense form to denote an action in progress at a definite period of time in the past.)

1. I was shaving while the children were having breakfast.

2. Were you reading a newspaper when I came in?

3. At 8 o'clock on Thursday evening the students of our group were having a meeting.

4. They were revising for their preliminary in English when I arrived.

5. Jane and Lewis were whispering in class while the teacher was looking at them with indignation.

6. At this time yesterday Pete was preparing for his exam in Economics.

7. I fell asleep when I was watching TV.

8. It was raining the whole day yesterday that's why we couldn't take part in the excursion.

9. He was working in the garden from 7 to 8 o'clock yesterday evening and he didn't hear the telephone ring.

10. They were waiting for us when we came back.

11. It happened while I was living in Bristol.

12. At one o’clock she was having lunch.

2. Transform into negative and interrogative forms.

1. I was looking for you all day yesterday.

2. When the phone rang, he was sitting at the breakfast.

3. They were watching TV at 10 o'clock yesterday.

4. At this time yesterday she was meeting them at the airport.

5. It was raining cats and dogs when we got to the station.

6. They were playing cards when the stranger appeared on the deck.

7. The foreigner was speaking slowly because he wanted us to understand the joke.

8. Tom was learning English the whole day yesterday.

9. My friends were playing chess when the light went out.

10. The secretary was still dialling 911 when she saw the burglar again.

11. It was raining the whole morning yesterday.

12. I was reading a book at 5 o’clock yesterday.

3.Say what you or other people were doing some time ago. Use the prompts.

Model: The whole day yesterday I was busy. (write an article)

I was writing an article.

1. On Sunday I was in the library. (prepare for one’s exam)

2. At 11 a.m. on Saturday I was at the University. (write a test)

3. We were in the country on the weekend. (fish)

4. All day long yesterday I was out. (work in the garden)

5. At 7 o’clock yesterday evening we were still at the office. (have a meeting)

6. From 10 till 12 on Sunday Victor was busy. (repair the TV set)

7. At 10 a.m. yesterday I was at home. (clean the flat)

8. Yesterday afternoon we were at the stadium. (play football)

9. On Friday morning I was at work. (make an experiment)

10. At 5 o’clock yesterday I was still at Peter’s. (celebrate his birthday)

11. At 8 o’clock yesterday evening I was on the phone. (talk to my friend)

12. From 2 till 3 yesterday I was out. (do the shopping)