2. Past Continuous
Past continuous is used to describe activity
or event that was in the process at one time
in the past before another activity came to
interrupt it.
Example :
Jack was reading a book when the phone rang.
They were playing football when the rain comes.
3. Form
Affirmative Tense
S + TO BE (WAS/WERE) + V-ING
Negative Tense
S + TO BE (WAS/WERE) + NOT + V-ING
Interrogative Tense
TO BE (WAS/WERE) + S + V-ING
Information Question
WH-QUESTIONS + TO BE (WAS/WERE) + S + V-ING
4. WHEN AND WHILE
WHEN and WHILE are commonly used in past continuous.
WHEN usually comes after the past continuous tense
Example : I was watching TV when the door bell rang
WHILE usually comes before the past continuous tense
Example : While I was watching TV the door bell rang
5. Can you use past progressive?
• Use the simple past or past progressive to
complete the following sentences.
1. A: What (you, do) __ when you got hurt?
B: I (try) __ to change a light bulb that was bad.
2. After I (find) __ the wallet full of money, I
(go, immediately) __ to the police and (turn) __
it in for the official reward.
3. The doctor (say) __ that Tom (be) __ too sick
to go to work and that he (need) __ to stay at
home for a couple of days.
Is there a real difference between
simple past and past progressive?
6. Are you using past progressive?
• Use the simple past or past progressive to
complete the following sentences.
4. A: I (call) __ you last night after dinner, but
you (be, not) __ there. Where were you?
B: I (work) __ out at the fitness center.
5. I (watch) __ a mystery movie on T.V. when the
electricity (go) __ out. Now I (never, go) __ to
find out how the movie (end) __.
6. It's strange that you (call) __ because I
(think, just) __ about you.
Can you tell the difference between
simple past and past progressive?
7. YOUR TURN
• Talk about an incident that ever
happened to you. Create a dialogue
with your partner. Talk about :
◊where you were and what you were
doing at that time.
◊how the incident happened.
◊the result of the incident.
