UNIT 6. Past continuous (I was doing) P23

A. Study this example situation:

Yesterday Karen and Jim played tennis. They began at 10 o'clock and finished at 11.30. So, at 10.30 they were playing tennis.

They were playing = 'they were in the middle of playing'. They had not finished playing.

Was/were ~ing is the past continuous:

I/he/she/it was playing/doing/working etc.

we/you/they were playing/doing/working etc.

B. We use the past continuous to say that somebody was in the middle of doing something at a certain time.

The action or situation had already started before this time but had not finished:

* This time last year I was living in Brazil.

* What were you doing at 10 o'clock last night?

* I waved to her but she wasn't looking.

C. Compare the past continuous (I was doing) and past simple (I did):

Past continuous (in the middle of an action)

* I was walking home when I met Dave. (= in the middle of walking home)

* Ann was watching television when the phone rang.

Past simple (complete action)

* I walked home after the party last night. (= all the way, completely)

* Ann watched television a lot when she was ill last year.

D. We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to say that something happened in the middle of something else:

我们经常把过去时和过去进行时一起用，用于表达“某件事发生在另外一件事发生的时候”

* Tom burnt his hand when he was cooking the dinner. 他做饭时伤了自己的手。

* I saw you in the park yesterday. You were sitting on the grass and reading a book.

* While I was working in the garden, I hurt my back.

But we use the past simple to say that one thing happened after another:

* I was walking along the road when I saw Dave. So I stopped and we had a chat.

Compare:

* When Karen arrived, we were having dinner. (= We had already started dinner before Karen arrived.)

* When Karen arrived, we had dinner. (= First Karen arrived and then we had

dinner.)

E. There are some verbs (for example, know/want/believe) that are not normally used in the continuous (see Unit 4A):

* We were good friends. We knew each other well. (not 'we were knowing')

* I was enjoying the party but Chris wanted to go home. (not 'was wanting')

 

EXERCISES

6.1 What were you doing at the following times? Write one sentence as in the examples. The past continuous is not always necessary (see the second example).

1. (at 8 o'clock yesterday evening)

I was having dinner with some friends.

2. (at 5 o'clock last Saturday)

I was on a train on my way to London.

3. (at 10.15 yesterday morning)

4. (at 4.30 this morning)

5. (at 7.45 yesterday evening)

6. (half an hour ago)

6.2 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use the past continuous.

1. Tom burnt his hand while he was cooking the dinner.

2. The doorbell rang while I --- was cooking.

3. We saw an accident while we --- was passing by

4. Mary fell asleep while she --- was writing.

5. The television was on but nobody --- was watching.

6.3 Put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

1. I saw (see) Sue in town yesterday but she --- (look) the other way. was looking

2. I met (meet) Tom and Ann at the airport a few weeks ago. They were going (go) to Berlin and I'm going (go) to Madrid. We had

(have) a chat while we were waiting (wait) for our flights.

3. I cycled (cycle) home yesterday when suddenly a man steped (step) out into the road in front of me. I was going (go) quite fast

but luckily I managed (manage) to stop in time and didn't (not/hit) him.

6.4 Put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

1. Jane was waiting (wait) for me when I arrived (arrive).

2. 'What were you doing (you/do) this time yesterday?' 'I was asleep.'

3. 'did you go out last night?' 'No, I was too tired.'

4. 'Was Carol at the party last night?' 'Yes, she wore (wear) a really nice dress.'

5. How fast --- (you/drive) when the accident --- (happen)?

6. John took (take) a photograph of me while I was not looking.(not/look).

7. We were in a very difficult position. We didn't know (not/know) what to do.

8. I haven't seen Alan for ages. When I last saw (see) him, he was trying (try) to find a Job in London.

9. I walked (walk) along the street when suddenly I heared (hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody was following (follow) me. I was

frightened and I was starting (start) to run.

10. When I was young, I wanted (want) to be a bus driver.