The past continuous (progressive) tense

BE (WAS, WERE) + V + ING

Exercise 1. Comment on the use of the Past Continuous in the following sentences. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. This time last year I was living in Brazil. 2. Was she working at 10 o’clock yesterday morning? 3. When Kate was watching TV, the phone rang. 4. We played ping-pong from two o’clock until four o’clock. 5. I was walking along Pennsylvania Avenue at 3 o’clock yesterday. 6. They were not studying at the university at that time. 7. She had poor health and was always complaining of headaches. 8. What were you doing the whole evening? 9. The children were playing while their mother was watching them. 10. Tom burnt his hand when he was cooking the dinner. 11. We were walking in the park when it started to rain. 12. Norman was working all day yesterday. 13. What was Martin doing when you stopped to give him a lift? 14. What were you doing yesterday at 8 p.m.? - I was writing a letter to our branch manager. 15. I found the money while I was shopping in the supermarket. 16. I was sitting in front of the fire when there was a knock at the door.

Exercise 2. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Continuous Tense.

1. What you (do) yesterday at 10.20 p.m.? - I (listen) to a play on the radio. 2. My wife and I (talk) about you the other day. 3. When I first met him he (study) painting. 4. Who you (talk) to on the telephone as I came in? - I (talk) to Mr. Smith. 5. Where he (live) when you saw him last? 6. I went into the garden to see what the boys (do). 7. The traffic made so much noise that I couldn’t hear what he (say). 8. John (work) all day yesterday. 9. He watched the children for a moment. Some of them (bathe) in the sea, others (play) in the sand. 10. One winter evening the old man and his wife (sit) by the fire. The old man (smoke) his pipe and (read) the paper. 11. John got off the train while it (go). 12. I (play) the piano when he came into the room. 13. She (live) in England when the war began. 14. He (walk) home when the rain began. 15. He hurt his foot while he (climb) the tree. 16. The car hit a tree while it (travel) at 60 miles an hour.

Exercise 3. Make the following sentences a) negative and b) interrogative.

1. The students were working in the laboratory all evening yesterday. 2. We were sitting for the examonation from five till six. 3. At eight o’clock yesterday my room-mate was watching a football match on TV. 4. I was having dinner when you rang me up. 5. Mary was always losing her gloves when she was a little girl. 6. My son was swimming and diving in the Black Sea all summer. 7. I was hurrying to the canteen when I met you. 8. Yesterday after- noon we were playing tennis at the stadium.

9. On Friday morning I was making an experiment at the laboratory. 10. At 7 o’clock yesterday evening we were still having a meeting at the office. 11. When Tom knocked at the door, Nancy was talking on the phone. 12. When the bell rang, the students were still writing a test. 13. I was walking to the office this morning when I saw an accident. 14. While I was working in the garden, I hurt my leg. 15. Professor Smith was working at his project all night. 16. We were waiting for you at 6 yesterday.

Exercise 4. Add tag questions to the following sentences.

1. The Winkles were not living in Philodelphia at that time. 2. When I first met him he was studying painting. 3. Mr. Jones was talking to a student at that moment. 4. Mrs. Brady was constantly complaining. 5. They were not discussing this question when we came in. 6. Joan was hurrying to the station when we met her. 7. Tom was sitting in a corner with a book. 8. At this time last year George was not learning to drive a car. 9. While he was learning to drive he had twenty-five accidents. 10. I was not shopping in the morning yesterday. 11. When he came into the office, the secretary was talking to a visitor. 12. He was not working all day yesterday. 13. We saw an accident while we were driving to the airport. 14. At 10.30 the children were not playing in the yard. 15. Ramon was leaving the party when I arrived. 16. We were expecting Mr.Baker yesterday but he didn’t come.

Exercise 5. Ask questions to the following statements. Begin with a given interrogative word.

Model: I was visiting my friend from 5 till 6 yesterday. (who)

Who were you visiting from 5 till 6 yesterday?

1. At 5 sharp Helen was talking to the dean.(when) 2. The foreigner was speaking slowly because he wanted us to understand him. (why). 3. They were playing cards when the phone rang.(what) 4. The customs official was inspecting Bill’s luggage when he heard an explosion. (what). 5. When James came, Mary was looking for something.(who) 6. Mr. Rock was giving a lecture on Mark Twain at 9 o’clock yesterday morning.(what lecture). 7. From six to ten yesterday morning the boss was interviewing the new people.(who) 8. We were playing tennis at five o’clock yesterday.(when) 9. Mrs. Russel was looking for her watch when I came in.(whose) 10. Philip was going to the bank when we met him.(where) 11. While I was talking on the telephone Mary was looking through the magazines.(when) 12. Linda was waiting for the bus when she saw her mother.(who) 13. While Renata was crossing the street, she ran into her ex-boyfriend.(what) 14. When I saw Gemma she was talking to a tall young man. (who) 15. I was visiting my granny at the hospital from 3 to 4 yesterday. (how long) 16. We were watching television at 8 o’clock yesterday.(what)

Exercise 6. Make sentences with ‘when’ for these situations saying that one action was interrupted by another action.

Model: I watched television. I fell asleep.