1.6. Past Continuous

Exercise 52. Translate into Russian and comment on the use of the Past Continuous Tense.

1. This time last year I was living in Brazil.

2. Yesterday at 8 in the evening I was at home and was playing computer games.

3. What were you doing when I called you?

4. The fire was still burning when the fire-brigade arrived.

5. Just as he was getting on the bus a thief stole his purse.

6. It was getting chilly, so they left the veranda. In the room Bert was making himself a drink.

7. "What was he trying to explain?" "I didn't understand him either.”

8. Mary was relaxing the whole evening yesterday.

9. They were flying over the Andes when the plane crashed.

10. Tom was reading out the data while Sara was writing it down.

Exercise 53. Make the following sentences interrogative and then negative.

1. It was showing all day yesterday.

2. The lecture was getting rather dull.

3. It was raining when I left the house.

4. David was reading a newspaper while my wife was cooking dinner.

5. She burnt her hand when she was cooking dinner.

6. They were still discussing the plan at midnight.

7. Ted was walking along the lane when he heard a shot somewhere.

8. They were cleaning this flat all morning.

9. John was getting unforgettable impression during his last summer holiday.

10. I was sending Christmas cards to my relatives and friends from Monday to Friday.

Exercise 54. Ask questions to the following sentences beginning with the words in brackets.

1. Yesterday at 10.00 she was having breakfast. (Where?)

2. It was raining heavily yesterday in the morning. (Where?)

3. We were revising for our exam when he called us up. (What...for?)

4. They were chatting all day long in the garden. (Who?)

5. As I was walking down the road I saw Bill. (When?)

6. They were raining quickly because they were afraid to miss their train. (Why? What?)

7. You were sleeping so soundly. I didn't want to bather you. (Why?)

8. John was testing his new car while his wife was cooking dinner. (Why?)

9. He was too dramatic. I think he was overdoing it. (Why?)

10. While I was working, I hurt my back. (Where?)

Exercise 55. Choose the correct verb form (Past Continuous or Past Simple).

1. It was 8.00 in the morning. A lot of people stood / were standing at the bus stop, waiting to go to work.

2. A magnificent oak tree stood / was standing in the middle of the garden.

3. I studied / was studying politics at university,

4. He studied / was studying the effects of radiation when he suddenly died.

5. When I woke up this morning it rained / was raining.

6. It rained / was raining every single day of the holidays.

7. I asked him what he thought / was thinking about.

8. I thought / was thinking the play was extremely good.

9. – What did you do / were you doing with that electric drill? – I was putting up some book shelves in my bedroom.

10. – What did you do / were you doing with that electric drill? – I put it back in its box in the tool cupboard.

11. – What did you do / were you doing before you took this job? – Nothing, actually. I only left school a few months ago.

12. – What did you do / were you doing in my bedroom just now? – The light was on, so I just went in to turn it off.

Exercise 56. Put the best tense (Past Continuous or the Past Simple).

1. At six o'clock (his morning I (have) a wonderful dream, but then the alarm (go) off.

2. This time yesterday I (lie) on the beach.

3. When 1 walked in they all (talk) about babies.

4. I saw Sid when I (come) to work this morning. He (shop).

5. She (meet) her husband while she (travel) in Egypt.

6. While I (talk) to Mrs. Singleton somebody (walk) into my office and (steal) the computer.

7. When Jake (come) in everybody (stop) talking.

8. I (look) out of the window and (see) that we (fly) over the mountains.

9. I (wake) up to find that water (pour) through the bedroom ceiling.

10. He (break) his leg while he (play) football.

Exercise 57. Use the proper tense (Past Continuous or the Past Simple).

1. We (walk) in silence when he suddenly (ask) me to help him.

2. I just (have) breakfast when the telephone (ring). When I came back to my coffee it (be) cold.

3. When I (finish) my letter in the hall, a tall beautiful woman with red hair (enter). A dog (follow) her.

4. Ann (drop) two cups while she (wash up) last night, but neither of the cups (break).

5. I (walk) along the street watching what (go on) around me. Fast cars (rush) in both directions and it (be) impossible to cross the street.

6. The old man who (sit) on the bench beside me (keep) silence. Then suddenly he (turn round) to me and (begin) to speak.

7. I (stand) near the fence when suddenly I (hear) the voices.

8. The day was marvelous: the sun (shine), the birds (sing) so we (decide) to go for a walk.

9. I (light) my pipe and (nod) to him to show that I (listen).

10. When he (come) into the office the secretary (do) a crosswords puzzle.

Exercise 58. Choose the right variant (Present Perfect, Past Simple or Past Continuous).

1. While I (was waiting / waited / have waited) for him to call up, he (had / was having / have had) a good time in the bar.

2. He (has invited / was inviting / invited) me to the party yesterday.

3. I (passed / have passed / was passing) my exam in history today.

4. They (have seen / saw / were seeing) this film last week.

5. It (rained / has rained / was raining) this week.

6. She (was having / had / has had) a bath at seven o'clock last night.

7. She (was washing / washed / has washed) dishes already.

8. They (had / have had / were having) dinner when the telephone rang.

9. I (didn't meet / haven't met / was not meeting) you for ages.

10. We (sat / were sitting / have sat) in silence for a few minutes. He (spoke / was speaking / has spoken) at last.

11. Only two stars (shone / were shining / has shone) in the dark blue sky.

12. I (met / was meeting / have met) Ann at her father's house twenty years ago and (knew / have known / was knowing) her ever since.

Exercise 59. Find the mistakes if any. Use the proper tense.

1. When he was calling she had a bath.

2. While I was ironing he read a newspaper.

3. I cooked dinner when I heard this news.

4. He was working in this company in 1997.

5. Were you quarreling all evening?

6. The train was approaching the city when it was raining heavily.

7. When he came up to the square, he saw a lot of people: they sang, danced and shouted. They were celebrating New Year.

8. Just as I was coming into the room, the students discussed the first report.

9. All the time I was writing he was annoying me with silly questions.

10. The children played while the mother put the room in order.

Exercise 60. Translate into English.

1. Я так и не увидел Великие озёра. Когда поезд проезжал этот район, была ночь.

2. Пока директор вел беседу с представителями (representative) иностран­ных фирм, секретарь сортировала утреннюю почту.

3. Том Сойер не мог играть со своими товари­щами. Он красил забор.

4. Уже садилось солнце, когда я подъехал к Эдинбургу.

5. Он вел машину на большой скорости.

6. Они вышли, когда еще было свет­ло, но черные тучи собирались на горизонте дул холодный северный ветер.

7. Ей было очень труд­но жить с миссис Грин в одной комнате, так как та постоянно жаловалась на хо­лод и на плохое обслуживание.

8. Она шла по темной улице и оглядывалась. Кто-то следил за ней.