GRAMMAR: The past simple and the past continuous

The past simple and the past continuous

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Consider this sentence from Vanesa's story.Consider this sentence from Vanesa's story.

The bell started ringing because It was the last class of the day! My students left the classroom and they were making a lot of noise.

 

In pairs, ask and answer the questions below.

  • Look at the verbs in blue. What tense is this?
  • There is only one verb in green. What form of the verb is it?

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Study the chart

Past continuous

 

REMEMBER

Remember

Exercise 1

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Complete the gaps with the past continuous form of the verb in brackets.

  1. Vanesa met her husband when she (live) in England
  2. They (wait) for us when we arrived
  3. he (wear) a carf when he went out?
  4. What you (do) yesterday at 9am?
  5. She (not listen) when the teacher gave the instructions
  6. I (drive) when she phoned
  7. It (not rain) when I woke up this morning

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Exercise 2

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Choose the correct option.

  1. She  when they dinner.
  2.  when the police  you?
  3. I the match because I
  4. When we the restaurant it
  5. When you  me, I to the teacher.

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To review the form and use of the present simple, go to Unit 3.1.

Bonus Task

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Click the links below to do practice the form and use of the past continuous: