2. 1. THE PAST CONTINUOUS
Definition:
The Past Continuous is the tense which we use:
1- to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted.
The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past.
Remember this can be a real interruption or just an
interruption in time.
Example:
- I was watching TV when she called.
3. 1. THE PAST CONTINUOUS
2- we can also use a specific time
as an interruption.
Example:
- Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
4. 1.1. Form of the Past Continuous
Subject + to be (in the past simple) +
stem + ing
Example:
In this study, I was trying to reveal the
characteristics of the literary text in
Shakespeare.
5. 1.2. Making Questions in the
Past Continuous
To be (in the past simple) + Subject +
stem + ing
Example:
Was he talking to me ?
6. 1.3. Examples of sentences with
verbs in the Past Continuous
1. I was watching TV when she called.
2. When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
3. What were you doing when the earthquake started?
I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
4. You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the
oven off.
5. While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
6. Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
7. While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went
off.
8. What were you doing when you broke your leg?
7. 2. THE PAST PERFECT
Definition:
The Past Perfect is the tense which we use to talk about:
- An action that was completed before another action in the
past.
Example:
When I arrived there, Mr BOUASSLA had already left,
- To refer to an activity that was completed before a point of
time in the past.
Example:
In 2005 I had lived in the same place for ten years.
8. 2.1. Form of the Past Perfect
Subject + to have (in the past simple)
+ past participle of the verb,
Example:
The researcher had conducted the study in
Medea University.
9. 2.2. Making Questions in the
Past Perfect
To have (in the Past simple) + Subject
+ past participle.
Example:
• Had he been there when she arrived ?
10. 2.3. Examples of sentences with
verbs in the Past Perfect
1. I had been awake waiting until my mother
came home.
2. She had been sleeping when her phone rang
and woke her up.
3. I ran to school as soon as I had finished my
breakfast.
4. Her mother cleaned the dishes after she had
finished eating.
5. I had finished the work.
11. 2.3. Examples of sentences with
verbs in the Past Perfect
6. I had written articles on various topics before
he came.
7. He had read different kinds of books before
you came.
8. They had played football in that field before
it started to rain.
9. She had gone to the coffee shop before she
came home.
10. He had studied in the library before he came
to the class.
