Past Simple and Past Continuous

GRAMMAR Past simple and continuous

Lesson 3

Past simple and continuous

GRAMMAR

1 Read the examples. Which verb is in the past continuous?

How do we form the past continuous?

1 Immediately I heard the noise of a loud motorbike.

2 She was waiting at the side of the road.

2 Choose the correct words to complete the rule.

a We use the past simple / continuous to talk about a completed action at a past time.

b We use the past simple / continuous to talk about actions in progress at a past time.

Past simple and continuous

GRAMMAR

3 Choose the correct form of the verbs.

1 I couldn’t call you. The thief stole / was stealing my phone!

2 I saw someone in front of your house yesterday. She tried / was trying to open your car door.

3 What did the burglars take / were the burglars taking ?

4 I phoned you last night but there was no answer. What did you do / were you doing ?

5 We weren’t at home last night. We travelled / were travelling back from a relative’s house.

Past simple and continuous

GRAMMAR

4 Read the examples from the stories. Then complete the rules with past simple or past continuous .

1 We were crossing the road, when I got out my phone.

2 While the officers were checking the bikes, they noticed that several of them didn’t have bells.

3 When we arrived , my brother and I got changed straight away and jumped in.

We often use the past continuous and the past simple together.

a The _________________ talks about a past action in progress.

b The _________________ talks about a completed shorter action that interrupted the action in progress.

c If one action happens after the other, we use the ___________________ for both actions.

past continuous

past simple

past simple

GRAMMAR REFERENCE AND PRACTICE PAGE 142 5 Correct the mistake in each sentence. 1 I read a book when a woman screamed. 1 I was reading a book when a woman screamed. 2 We are talking when a policeman asked me my name. 3 We went to my house and we were watching TV. 4 When I walked near the river, I saw a dog in the water. 5 While we’re waiting for the bus, I heard a cry. 6 He was quite tall and wears a loose-fitting tracksuit. 2 We were talking when a policeman asked me my name. 3 We went to my house and we watched TV. 4 When I was walking near the river, I saw a dog in the water. 5 While we were waiting for the bus, I heard a cry. 6 He was quite tall and was wearing a loose-fitting tracksuit. " width="640"

Past simple and continuous

GRAMMAR

GRAMMAR REFERENCE AND PRACTICE PAGE 142

5 Correct the mistake in each sentence.

1 I read a book when a woman screamed.

1 I was reading a book when a woman screamed.

2 We are talking when a policeman asked me my name.

3 We went to my house and we were watching TV.

4 When I walked near the river, I saw a dog in the water.

5 While we’re waiting for the bus, I heard a cry.

6 He was quite tall and wears a loose-fitting tracksuit.

2 We were talking when a policeman asked me my name.

3 We went to my house and we watched TV.

4 When I was walking near the river, I saw a dog in the water.

5 While we were waiting for the bus, I heard a cry.

6 He was quite tall and was wearing a loose-fitting tracksuit.

GRAMMAR

6 Complete the story with the past simple or past continuous form of the verbs.

1 noticed

6 went

2 was looking

7 was sleeping

3 found

8 arrived

9 was staying

4 were hanging

5 Was, living

10 needed

WORKBOOK: p.22, ex.1-4

The lesson is over!

Good bye!