Grammar (The Past Continuous Tense) Exercise # 1 Put the verb into the correct form: the Past Continuous or the Past Indefinite

1. I (to walk) slowly down the street when somebody (to call) me. 2. The woman (to put) some perfume into her bag when the shop-girl (to see) her. 3. The woman (not to see) that the girl (to look) at her. 4. She (to look through) the documents when I (to talk) to the manager. 5. He still (to work) when I left. 6. I (to wonder) whether you could lend me some money. 7. I (to break) a plate last night. I (to do) the washing up when it (to slip) out of my hand. 8. Fred (not to drive) very fast when the accident (to happen). 9. We (not to step) to look at a shop window. 10. He (to live) in Paris during his last years.

Exercise # 2 Here is a list of some things that Angela did yesterday and the time at which she was doing them. Write sentences saying what she was doing during these hours.

Model: At 9 o’clock she was having breakfast.

1. 8.00 – 9.00 (to have breakfast) 2. 9.00 – 11.00 (to clean the flat) 3. 11.00 – 11.45 (to read the magazine) 4. 12.00 – 13.00 (to go shopping) 5. 13.00 – 14.00 (to have lunch) 6. 14.30 – 15.30 (to wash linen)

7. 16.00 – 16.30 (to cook meal) 8. 16.30 – 18.00 (to watch TV) 9. 18.30 – 19.00 (to have dinner) 10. 19.30 – 21.00 (to play cards with friends)

Exercise # 3 Make the following sentences complete by translating the phases in brackets:

1. She was eating the caviar and she was eating the salmon (а я в той час думав яким буде рахунок). 2. (Я розповідав про ситуацію на Балканах) when she was sending those enormous succulent asparagus down her throat. 3. Children were playing football (а дорослі обговорювали останні новини у пивному барі на відкритому повітрі оскільки день був чудовий і сонечко сяяло яскраво і весело). 4. While we were waiting for the coffee (до нас наближався метрдотель з великим кошиком чудових персиків). 5. (Коли він пакував свої речі у валізу) his wife was making some arrangements over the telephone. 6. When professor was making his daily round (палатні лікарі оглядали своїх хворих). 7. During dinner while Andrew was chewing his piece of old meat, (місіс Пейдж пригощалась вином та гарячим біфштексом). 8. The dog was following the boy (який їв гамбургер). 9. What were you doing when I rang you up? – (Я працювала в саду і не чула твого дзвінка). 10. When we came home (мати все ще готувала їжу і нам довелось почекати).

Exercise # 4 Make the sentences complete using either the Past Continuous or the Past Indefinite of the verbs in brackets:

1. When I switched on the light I … (see a letter on the table). 2. When the lecturer entered the room the students … (talk in loud voices and laugh). 3. He heard a strange noise when he … (come up to the house). 4. Nobody was listening to what he … (say). 5. When I entered the shop the shop-girl … (show a nice dress to an elderly lady). 6. Mr. Brown was making a call when his secretary … (bring in the morning post). 7. When she was five her mother … (teach her English). 8. It was already late and the people … (leave the party). 9. The ball was at its peak when John …(arrive). 10. It was cold and a strong wind … (blow from the North).