Page 37 - Grasp English A2 (Grammar Book)

Tales And Stories 6

Past continuous

We use the past continuous:
to talk about actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past:
I was reading a newspaper at nine o’clock last night.
Tom was working in a shop last year at this time.

to show past intention:
I was going to watch the game on TV, but our guests came.

She was going to make dinner, but the earthquake hit.

to talk about two or more actions that were in progress at the same time in the past:
I was lying on the sofa and listening to the radio.
Mary was watching TV while I was cooking in the kitchen.

to talk about one action in the past which interrupts another action in the past:
My mother was cleaning the house when the postman knocked at the door.

Jane was sleeping when the telephone rang.

A. Underline the correct verbs in the following sentences.

1. Tom ate / was eating his lunch at twelve o’clock yesterday.
2. At this time last year, I worked / was working in Edinburgh.
3. The students studied / were studying two hours every day.

4. Jemma watched / was watching TV at ten o’clock last night.
5. Sheila travelled / was travelling to Africa last summer.
6. The old man shook / was shaking his head and walked away.
7. The waiter served / was serving dinner when the electricity went off.

8. Mary went / was going to bed at eleven o’clock last night.
9. I worked / was working six days a week in London.
10. Sue slept / was sleeping at eleven o’clock last night.
11. It snowed / was snowing very heavily all day yesterday.
12. Alice cut / was cutting her finger in the kitchen.

13. The young mountain climber broke / was breaking his leg.
14. I had / was having long hair when I was seventeen years old.
15. The teacher showed / was showing us how to use a dictionary this morning.

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