Past progressive

We use the past progressive to say that something was going on around a particular past time.

What were you doing at 1.00 last night? – I was watching TV. (NOT – What did you do….? – I watched TV.

We can use the past progressive and simple past together.

Past progressive: longer background action or situation.

Simple past: shorter action that interrupted it or happened in the middle.

As I was walking down the road I saw Bill.

The phone rang while I was having dinner.

Exercise 17. Now put the correct verb forms into the sentences.

1. Andrew………when I was getting ready to go out. (arrive)

2. The phone rang while I…….. a bath. (have)

3. I first met my wife when I……. in Berlin. (study)

4. When I looked out of the window it……. .(rain)

5. I stopped because the car……..a funny noise. (make)

6. My brother ……….his leg while he was skiing last week. (break)

7. Where were you going when I ……. you yesterday? (see)

8. When I was cleaning the house I …… some old love letters. (find)

9. The accident …….while we………into Copenhagen. (happen, drive)

10. I……all my money when I ……from Istanbul to Athens. (lose, travel)

11. When I ………..her she ………….reading. (see, sit)

12. The lights all……….while we………..supper. (go out, have)

13. When I ………the train, I ………my ticket onto the railway line. (get off, drop)

Exercise 18. Write the negative form.

Example: The chemist is determining the constituents of water. –

The chemist isn’t determining the constituents of water.

1. I am heating hydrogen in the tube.

2. They are studying chemistry now.

3. The analyst is still working in the laboratory.

4. They were making experiments from 5 to 8 o’clock in the lab yesterday.

5. They will be studying these elements all day long tomorrow.

Exercise 19. Put in the correct verb forms: Present Simple or Present progressive.

1. Water (to occur) abundantly in minerals.

2. He (to pour) water into a test-tube now.

3. The students (to take part) in the experiment at present.

4. Water (to be) an important constituent of the earth’s atmosphere.

5. Water (to dissolve) a part of nearly everything with which it (to come) into contact.

Exercise 20. Define the tense.

1. We observe how these salts are dissolving in water.

2. Water has appreciable amounts of dissolved salts.

3. He was making an experiment from 2 till 3.

4. We shall use all the constituents in our experiment.

5. He calculated the amounts of substances contained in water.

NON-PROGRESSIVE VERBS

Some verbs are not normally used in progressive forms.

I know what you mean. (NOT I’m knowing what you are meaning)

Exercise 21. These verbs aren’t normally used in progressive forms. Use some or all of them to complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible.

Believe belong contain forget hate like love matter need own prefer realize remember suppose understand want

1. This book ______to me.

2. I _______you’re right.

3. His father ______ a chain of hotels.

4. She says she ______to see Fred.

5. I ______you don’t ______me.

6. I _______how old she is.

7. Money doesn’t ______ to me.

8. ‘Beer?’ ‘I _______water.’

9. That bottle _______petrol.

Exercise 22. Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. He listens / is listening to the news every day.

2. She loves / is loving bright clothes.

3. I’m sorry, I don’t understand / am not understanding.

4. Paul has / is having a shower.

5. I think / am thinking it’s horrible.