This document provides examples and explanations for using the past continuous tense in English. It discusses how the past continuous describes actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. It also notes that two actions in the past continuous indicate that the actions were happening simultaneously or in parallel. The document provides many examples of using the past continuous to talk about interrupted actions, parallel actions, and questions using the past continuous form. It concludes with exercises for learners to practice forming sentences using the past continuous correctly.

1. PAST
CONTINUOUS

2. [was/were + present participle]
 Examples:
 You were studying when she
called.
Were you studying when she
called?
 You were not studying when
she called.

3. Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous 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.

4.  Examples:
 I was watchingTV when she called.
 When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
 While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
 What were you doing when the earthquake started?
 I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
 You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the
oven off.
 While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his
car.
 Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
 While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly
went off.
 A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.

5.  Parallel Actions
 When you use the Past Continuous
with two actions in the same
sentence, it expresses the idea that
both actions were happening at the
same time. The actions are parallel.

6.  Examples:
 I was sleeping while he was making dinner.
 While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching
television.
 Were you listening while he was talking?
 I wasn't paying attention while I was writing
the letter, so I made several mistakes.
 What were you doing while you were
waiting?
 Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't
working either.
 They were eating dinner, discussing their
plans, and having a good time.

7. Examples:
 I was studying when she
called.
 While I was studying, she
called.

8.  When I ………………… my friends, they
………………monopoly.
 Yesterday at six I …………………..dinner.
 The kids …………….. in the garden when it suddenly
…………… to rain.
 I ……………………………….the guitar when he came
home.
 We ……………………………………… all day.
 While Aaron ………………………………in his room, his
friends …………………………………..in the pool.
 I tried to tell them the truth but they
………………………………. .
 What
……………………………………………………..yesterday?
 Most of the time we …………………………………in the
park.

9. Use the past continuous tense or simple past
tense as appropriate.
 1.My brother and sister ……………………..
tennis at 11 p.m yesterday when they
…………. The moon.
 2. …………….you still working at 7pm last
night?
 3.At 8.30am today I …………………..to work
when my parents ……………….. me urgently.
 4. While we …………………………. A science
fiction movie , we ……………………… a very
strange noise.

10.  5. Why ………. he ……………. lunch so early?
 6.I …………….John in town yesterday while he
……………………………………… in the Aventura
Mall.
 7.Mary ………………………..for me when I
…………..
 8.…………. She …………… a shower when I
……………….. her?
 9.I …………………………what to say when you
……………… angry.
 10.The telephone ……………… while we
……………………….. TV.

11. Homework
 CREATE A COMPLETE
CONVERSATION WITH TWO
PERSONS,USING PAST
CONTINUOUS, EACH PERSON
SPEAK TEN TIMES.