The past continuous

EXERCISE № 241. Explain the use of the Past Continuous in the following sentences:

1. Victory knew she was being rude, but she didn't care.	a certain state peculiar to the person at a given moment in the past
2. She'd walked into Lyne's office at least three minutes earlier and he was still talking.	an action going on at a definite moment in the past; the moment is understood from the situation.
3. She, just a beginner! And her designer clothes were selling!	an action going on at a given period of time in the past; the time is implied
4. While she was walking down the hall to her corner office, her cell phone began beeping.	an action in progress interrupted by another action in the past
5. She realized that it wasn't a dream and that the phone actually was ringing next to her head.	an action going on at a definite moment in the past; the moment is understood from the situation.
6. Ben phoned three times during the first month he left to say what a great time he was having.	an action going on for a period of time in the past
7. She didn't know he was leaving.	a future plan viewed from the past

EXERCISE № 242. Choose the correct form of the verb:

Thomas Edison started / was starting on the railway when he was twelve, selling newspapers and snacks. There were long periods with nothing for him to do so he built / was building himself a little laboratory in the luggage van where he could carry out experiments when he didn't sell / wasn't selling things to passengers. Another way that he occupied / was occupying himself was reading. He joined a library and read / was reading every single book in it. One day, when he waited / was waiting at a station he noticed / was noticing a small boy who played / was playing by the track, unaware that a train approached / was approaching. Edison ran / was running out and grabbed / was grabbing the child just in time. The child's father was so grateful that he offered /was offering to teach Edison to be a telegraph operator. Edison accepted the offer and soon he had /was having regular lessons. After a year, he was good enough to get a job in the telegraph office. He continued to read and experiment, whenever he had /was having time. At twenty one he left /was leaving the telegraph office to devote all his time to being an inventor. He went / was going on to invent the electric light bulb, the photograph and the movie camera.

EXERCISE № 243. Complete the sentences using the Past Continuous:

1. When John came home ... . 2. When the telephone rang ... . 3. When I entered ... . 4. When we arrived in St. Petersburg... .5. When the police came.... 6. When we saw her.... 7. When they got married.... 8. While she was cooking ... . 9. While I was finishing my homework .... 10. While the robber was putting the money into the bag....

EXERCISE № 244. Use the Past Simple or the Past Continuous.

1. When the taxi (to arrive) I still (to pack) my things. 2. What you (to do) in the evening yesterday? — I (to watch) TV and my wife (to wash up). 3. I (to do) all the exercises while you (to smoke). 4. Mr. Brown, where you (to be) when they (to drive) your car at midnight? 5. When the clock (to strike) nine she (to run) up the stairs to her office because the lift (not to work). 6. He (to stand) and (to watch) while the boys (to fight). 7. She (to wear) a marvellous new dress at the party and (to look) fantastic! 8. He (to wait) for her for an hour but she never (to come). 9. When the telephone (to ring) I (to bake) a cake and (to ask) Mary who (to do) nothing at the moment to answer the call. 10. Why you (not to attend) the lecture on Saturday? Professor B. (to speak) about UFO and other mysterious objects.

EXERCISE № 245. Choose the right answer.

At 11 o'clock yesterday morning, John was sitting/ sat in the waiting room at the doctor's. Next to him is/ was a woman with a very large thumb.

'How did you do / were you doing that?' John asked.

'I hung / was hanging a picture on the wall and I hit / was hitting my thumb by mistake.'

'Oh dear. How long have you been / are you waiting for the doctor?'

'About an hour, and my thumb is hurting / has hurt a lot.'

EXERCISE № 246. Read the examples and comment on the use of the tenses. What is the difference?

• The pilot started the engines and the plane taxied to the runway.

• The pilot had started the engines and the plane was taxiing to the runway.

EXERCISE № 247. Use the required Past form.

1. The white metal gates (swing) open and the car (drive) through.

2. Shane (go) to bed and Wendy and Victory and Nico (sat) on Wendy's ratty couch, still drinking champagne and talking.

3. Then we realized that Richard (come) in through the garden and (stand) in the room listening.

4. Grant just (change) into some dry things and (wait) for dinner when there was a knock at the door.

5. Mary (find) an old hat and (try) on. It suited perfectly.

EXERCISE № 248. Ask your partner questions with “What were you doing at…?” and “What were you doing when…(you first/ last…)?” that you think they won’t know the answer to. When your partner asks you something you can’t remember or you are trying to think, use different phrases each time, e.g. “It’s on the tip of my tongue” or “I’ll kick myself when I remember this later”

• at seven o’clock this morning

• at midday on the first of January

• at twenty two minutes past ten last night

• when you heard about the Berlin Wall falling

• heard that Michael Jackson was dead

• when you met your boyfriend/ girlfriend

• when you last saw your granny

• when you first drank champagne

EXERCISE № 249. Make polite requests. Use the verbs wonder, want or hope.

Model: I wonder if you can lend me your mixer. – I was wondering if you could lend me your mixer.

1. Can I use your phone?

2. Can I use your fax?

3. I wonder if you can baby-sit for me tonight.

4. Do you have time to see me?

5. Can we discuss a pay rise?

6. I hope you can lend me your bike.

7. Can I have a talk with Mr Lightman?

8. Will you help me?

9. Could you please lend me £50?

10. We hope you’ll come and see us on Sunday.

11. Could you give me a lift?

EXERCISE № 250. Sometimes we use the Past Continuous to emphasize an activity and the fact it went on for a period of time. For example, Sorry I’m late. I was chatting to a friend and forgot the time. Work in pairs and take turns saying sorry for being late. Give a different excuse each time. Reply with some of the expressions below.

Oh well. Never mind. At least you are here now.

It’s OK. I’ve only just got here myself.

Don’t worry about it. I haven’t been waiting long.

• have a coffee over the road

• sort out a problem at work

• look for a parking space

• wait for a bus for ages

EXERCISE № 251. We often use X was telling me (that) to report what someone said, and then continue the conversation by adding a comment or a question. Work in pairs and have conversations like this:

• Tom was telling me you like football.

• Yeah, that’s right.

• Do you play much?

or

• Joanna was telling me she listens to a lot of music.

• Oh yeah? What kind?

• lived in Germany/do there?

• play golf/any good?

• just been on holiday/you go?

• getting married/Congratulations/big day?

• looking for a flat at the moment/any luck?

• going to Brazil/news travels fast/how long/ be away?

• have taken up the guitar/teaching yourself to play?

• looking for a part-time job/what sort of job?

EXERCISE № 252. The Past Continuous is used in stories to describe the atmosphere, setting, etc. before we describe the main events. Write the backgrounds for the following situations. Model: She felt so empty inside. – She stuck her brown Coach hat on her head and climbed out of her car. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, spring flowers were beginning to bloom. The world was moving on, and she felt so empty inside. (R.Gibson)

1. Then, suddenly the engine began to make a strange noise and his car stopped dead in the middle of the road.

2. And then suddenly she felt something running up her leg she looked down it was…..

3. He felt a sudden pain in his back.

4. She felt panic-stricken. Her head felt as though it was on fire.

5. Then suddenly the bike stopped and before I knew what was happening, I'd fallen off.

EXERCISE № 253. Translate from Russian into English.

Когда мы дошли до развилки (get to the junction), я повернул направо, а Майк – налево.	When we got to the junction, I took the right turn while Mike took the left.
Мой брат 6 раз подавал документы на получение визы, прежде чем ее получил.	My brother applied for a visa 6 times before he got one.
Когда мы были маленькими, брат всегда (вечно) брал мои игрушки!	When we were young, my brother was always borrowing my toys!
Дениел вчера все утро играл в компьютерные игры.	Daniel was playing computer games all morning yesterday.
Ярко светило солнце, и пели птицы. Лаура открыла окно и поздоровалась с проходящим мимо почтальоном.	The sun was shining brightly and the birds were singing. Laura opened the window and greeted the postman, passing by.
Когда мы были в отпуске, мы играли в волейбол каждый день.	When we were on holiday, we played volleyball every day.
Когда папа встретил маму (познакомился), он работал водителем автобуса.	When my father met my mum, he was working as a bus driver.
В тот момент, когда я выключала свет, сработала пожарная сигнализация (the fire alarm/go off).	Just as I was switching off the light, the fire alarm went off.
Он меня то и дело критиковал! – Чепуха! Он покритиковал тебя лишь пару раз.	He was always criticizing me! – Nonsense! He only criticized you twice.
Он не пришел, поэтому мы ушли без него.	He didn’t come so we left without him.
Я ждал, что он позвонит, но он не позвонил.	I expected/was expecting him to call but he didn’t.
Мне хотелось бы узнать, не могли бы вы одолжить мне миксер.	I was wondering if you could lend me your mixer.
Когда будильник прозвенел, я встал/вставал.	When the alarm clock went off, I got up/was getting up.
Юлий Цезарь говорил: «Пришел, увидел, победил».	Julius Caesar said/used to say: “Came, saw, conquered”.
Салли читала детям книжку, а Кевин мыл в это время посуду.	Sally was reading a book to the children while Kevin was washing up.
Вчера в 5 я читала журнал. Я читала его с 4 до 7.	Yesterday at 5 I was reading a magazine. I was reading it from 4 to 7.
Летом 1978 года я работал на автомобильном заводе.	I was working in a car factory during the summer of 1978.
Я живу в Лондоне. – Но я думал, что ты живешь в Брайтоне.	I live in London. – But I thought you lived in Brighton.
Он сказал, что они встретят его во вторник.	He said they were meeting him on Tuesday.